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India, Pakistan for first time to  Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is participate together in SCO successor of grouping known as Shanghai Five, originated by counter-terror exercise for - China in 1996. It encompassed Russia, Peace Mission Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. For first time, arch competitors India and  In 2001 Uzbekistan was requested to join it Pakistan are participating in Peace Mission, a and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was multi-country counter-terror workout in Russia formally born and has came out as a regional to be organised in September 2018. The security organization military exercise is going to complete under India and Nepal agree to review the outline of Shanghai Cooperation bilateral trade treaty by - July Organisation. India’s participation at exercise was assured by Defence Minister Nirmala 2018 Sitharaman during meeting of Shanghai India and Nepal decided to review their Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers’ bilateral trade treaty by July 2018, in last week meeting organised in Beijing, China in April of April 2018. The provision was grated during 2018. a meeting of India-Nepal Inter-Government Peace Mission Committee on Trade, Transit and Cooperation  Peace Mission anti-terror military exercise will to Control Unauthorised Business in be organised in the Ural Mountains of Russia Kathmandu. and almost all Shanghai Cooperation Both nations decided to start a wide-ranging Organisation member nations are participating review of the agreement by July 2018. The in it. Its main objective is to improve counter- agreement was terror collaboration among the 8 Shanghai previously reviewed in 2009. Cooperation Organisation member nations. Other decisions  It will be for 1st time since Independence that  Both the nations also deliberated amendments India and Pakistan both will participate in to the bilateral Agreement of Transit signed in military 1999 to further facilitate movement of Nepal’s programme, though forces of both nations have business with third nations. worked together in United Nations diplomacy  The 2 nations also decided on synchronising missions. development of border business infrastructure Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to make sure appropriate usage of investment  Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is political in border infrastructure between India and and safety grouping HQ in Beijing. It was Nepal. originated in 2001.  In order to improve the trade volume, both the  The full members of group are China, Russia, nations also focused on to the requirement for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, harmonisation of standards and expediting Kyrgyzstan, India development on agreements between the and Pakistan. related agencies including BIS and FSSAI  They represent more than 40 per cent of from the Indian side. humanity and about 20 per cent of the global GDP. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 2 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 The two nations also decided to work towards  By 1868 senate and 6 states approved an 8- communal recognition of each other's testing hour legislation. In 1884 the National and certifications. Federation of Organized Trades and Labor  In order to make sure regular inputs from trade Assemblies decided to have an over-all strike and investors, both the countries decided to on May 1 st , 1886, to impose demands for form India-Nepal Joint Business Forum employers to observe the 8-hour day. containing of industry senates from the both  In 1947, amidst the anti-Communist Cold War sides that will act as an institutional hysteria, the United States Veterans of Foreign B2B mechanism. Wars retitled May 1st as 'Loyalty Day' and a World Labor Day celebrated on combine session of senates later made - 1st May 2018 the statement authorized.  In many nations, the May 1st holiday was May Day ceremonies that stem from the obtained by trade unions backed by socialist traditional centuries-old May Day civilizations parties. In the UK, a May Day Bank Holiday are observed was introduced in 1978 for trade workers to throughout the world. In Hawaii, May Day is observe same but was organised on the 1st called as “Lei Day” to observe the island’s Monday in May to diminish the business ethos. damage. In the UK, May Day is still observed in many  In China, Labor Day was stretched to three towns with the crowning of the May Queen. days during the 1990s. The Chinese Maypoles can still be seen in few towns and government made it a 7 days holiday by May Day civilizations may have hobby horses moving the previous and upcoming weekends and native people dressed-up in costumes. collectively with these 3 days. This Labor Day shoots from the efforts of the labor holiday permitted Chinese people to enjoy union drive to observe the economic and social travels during this time period. attainments of workers. In Mexico, it is  The Chinese government decreased mentioned to as “Primero de Mayo” and this holiday time period less to single day in having a nationwide holiday honouring all the 2008, while concurrently stimulating 3 labors. Few groups held parades to promote traditional Chinese holidays i.e. The Dragon and protect workers' rights. Boat Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day and the More about May Day/Labor Day Mid-Autumn Festival.  Conventionally, May Day is characterized by the congregation of flowers and the fertility rite India’s longest-serving Chief of dancing around the maypole. Minister - Sikkim’s Pawan  In current few years, May Day has become a Chamling labor festival honoring the military 68 years Sikkim’s Pawan Chamling formed and industrial actions of the nation precisely in history by becoming lengthiest-serving CM in socialist and Communist nations. India. He has  The 8-hour movement to decrease the working accomplished 23 years, 4 months and day from ten to 8 hours started after the Civil seventeen days of continuous service in office. War. He exceeded earlier record captured by Jyoti  It was a mega focus of the National Labor Basu, five-term West Bengal Chief Minister Union, whose 1st meeting was held in 1866. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 3 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

who grabbed office position for 23 years. Basu  Under this scheme, these stations will be was in office from June 21st, 1977-November permitted to bid for electricity supply. Under it, 6th, 2000. electricity will be obtained from generators Important Highllights with commissioned projects under medium-  Pawan Chamling Pawan Chamling was born term but without Power Purchase Agreement. on September 22nd, 1950, at Yangang, South  Power Finance Corporation Consulting Sikkim. Limited has been designated as Nodal Agency  After completing his matriculation, he had and PTC India Limited as aggregator. dropped out of school. He took his drop into  PTC India will ink 3-year Agreement for politics at an age of twenty-two during the time power procurement with positive bidders and when discussions were under path for union of Power Supply Agreement with Discoms. In the kingdom of Sikkim with India. He began pilot scheme, a solitary entity can be fixed his political career at age of 32. extreme capacity of 600 megawatts.  He was selected as President of Yangang Gram  The scheme will make sure least off-take of 55 Panchayat in 1982. per cent contracted volume.  In 1985, he was nominated to the Sikkim  The Tariff will be immovable for three years Legislative Assembly for the 1st time. He had without any appreciation. This plan is believed worked as Minister for Industries, Information to revive power need which has and Public Relations from 1989-1992 in Nar affected producers not having Power Purchase Bahadur Bhandari cabinet in the state. Agreements.  Following a sequence of political disturbances Significance in Sikkim, he shaped Sikkim Democratic Front  The scheme will assist about 12 Giga-Watt in 1993. commissioned thermal power plants obtain  He took oath as CM of Sikkim for the 1st time medium-term power purchase agreement on December 12th, 1994 and now has been in which is pre-requisite for obtaining coal office for 5th successive term. associations. Pilot scheme Procurement of  Currently out of 40 Giga-Watts worried coal- Aggregate Power of 2500 MW based electricity generation capacity, 28 power-plants of 24 Giga-Watts worth Rupees for 3 years launched by - 1.44 lakh crore are commissioned. Government  Approximately half of these capacities do not Ministry of Power has initiated Pilot Scheme have coal associations due to no Power for Procurement of Aggregate Power of 2500 Purchase Agreements. megawatts 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to on competitive basis for three years. The chief be held in Varanasi in - January motive of scheme is to recover commissioned power 2019 plants which are not able to trade electricity in The 15 th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be nonappearance of valid power purchase organised in holly city of Varanasi in UP from agreements. January 21 st - Key Points January 23rd, 2019. Its subject will be ‘Role of Indian Diaspora in building a New India’. The UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 4 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

jumbo  This alteration in post was a part of a bigger programme will be held by Ministry of reshuffle in Jammu and Kashmir’s PDP-BJP External Affairs in connotation with UP government led by Mehbooba Mufti. government. It will be  The reshuffle also noticed the introduction of 4 initiated by PM Narendra Modi and his fresh faces- Satpal Sharma from Kathua and Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth. Sambha MLAs Rajiv Jasrotia and Devinder More about Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Kumar Manyal and Shakti Raj Parihar as State  Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is observed annually Unit Chief. in India on 9th January. The day also honours  Moreover, Bhartiya Janta Party raised Minister return of of State for Transport Sunil Sharma to the father of nation Mahatma Gandhi from South position of a Cabinet minister. Africa in Mumbai on January 9th, 1915.  The Bhartiya Janta Party also take out 3  The day is observed to spot contribution of ministers - Nirmal Singh, Bali Bhagat and foreign Indian community to the progress of Priya Sethi. India.  On the flip side, the PDP released its Law and  The day was officially recognized in 2003. Rural Development Minister Abdul Haq Khan Celebrations of this day are supported by from the cabinet. Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and  While, Pulwama MLA Mohd Khalil Band and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Sonwar MLA Mohd Ashraf Mir took oath in as and Industry, Confederation of Indian Industry. cabinet ministers.  The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas was NASA to launch its first organised in Bengaluru with theme of mission to study deep interior of “Redefining Engagement with the Indian Diaspora”. Mars on - 5th May 2018 NASA will launch its first-ever Kavinder Gupta sworn in as mission InSight- Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Deputy Chief Minister of Geodesy and Heat Transport, to observe the Jammu and Kashmir on - 29th deep-interior of Mars on May 5th, 2018. It will April 2018 be released Kavinder Gupta, who resigned as the Speaker from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg of J&K Assembly on April 29th, 2018, took Air Force Base in California Atlas V rocket. oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of J&K, The space- taking place of Bhartiya Janta Party colleague rocket will also release 2 small-spacecraft Nirmal Singh. called Mars Cube One which is NASA’s The sworn-in of office and secrecy was technology directed to Kavinder Gupta by Governor experiment. N.N.Vohra. InSight Mission Bigger reshuffle in J&K’s PDP-BJP  InSight is motionless lander that will be 1st government NASA’s mission since Apollo moon piers to place UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 5 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

seismometer, which is an instrument that village cleanliness and produce wealth and calculates quakes on soil of another planet. energy from cattle and organic waste.  It has been imagined as part of NASA’s  It also focuses at forming new rural livelihood Discovery Program mission that focuses to options and attractive income for farmers and place stationary lander fitted with seismometer various rural people. and heat-transfer probe on Mars surface to  Under it, villagers will be prepared to create observe red planet’s early self-help groups and imaginative societies that geographical evolution. will assist in clean energy and green jobs  InSight is earthly planet explorer that will initiative. address one of most fundamental matters of  The plan focuses on managing and converting planetary and solar system science. It will cattle dung and solid waste in farms to benefit in understanding procedures that valuable compost, biogas and bio-CNG, designed rocky planets of inner solar system therefore, keeping villages clean, raising over 4 billion years ago. income of rural households and production of  The robotic lander will achieve a radio science energy from cattle dung. The plan imagines experiment to observe inner structure of Mars application of 700 bio-gas units in various by states of the nation in 2018-19. positioning seismometer and a burrowing heat  It will be enormously helpful for nation as probe. India is home to highest cattle population in  It will calculate Mar’s energetic signals such world which as pulse seismology, heat flow probe and generates about three million tonnes of dung. precision tracking. It will allow researchers  It will provide various benefits to countryside understand how its crust, mantle and core are people by maintaining villages clean and different from Earth. sanitized, GOBAR-DHAN Scheme cultivating livestock health and growing farm launched to promote wealth and yields.  Under it, biogas production will help to energy from waste by - The upsurge self-reliance in energy usage for Ministry of Drinking Water and cooking and lighting. Sanitation  It will enlarge income of farmers and cattle The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation herders. It will form new options for jobs has released Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro related to waste collection, transportation, Resources – biogas sales and many more. GOBAR DHAN plan at National Dairy  It will also deliver stable fuel supply in market Research Institute Karnal. It was released for oil organizations and available credit in under Swachh Bharat market through government plans and banks Mission by Union Minister for Drinking Water for businesspersons. and Sanitation Uma Bharti. World Asthma Day Key Points celebrated globally on - 1st  The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources- May 2018 DHAN Plan focuses to positively impact UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 6 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

GINA ( Global Initiative for Asthma)  The information highlighted that nine out of celebrated World Asthma Day on 1st May ten people in the world breathe highly polluted 2018 with the theme 'Never too early , never air. too late. It's always the right time to address  About seven million people passes away every airways diseases. year from exposure to polluted air that chokes Ashtma is a big pravelent problem in both the lungs and cardiovascular system, resulting developing and developed countries ass per stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, COPD and WHO. respiratory infections. Important Highlights  Air pollution is also a serious risk factor for  It's a chronic lung disorder caused due to air noncommunicable diseases, causing 24% of all inflammation. adult deaths from heart disease, 25% from  Airways become narrower and filled with stroke, 43% from COPD and 29% from lung mucus, henceforth block the airflow. cancer.  If attack comes from Asthma isn't controlled  Ambient air pollution caused around 4.2 on time, person may die. million deaths in 2016, whereas household air  Certain medications can control this non- pollution from cooking with polluting fuels communicable disease. triggered more than 3.8 million deaths in 2016. 14 Indian cities figure in  The maximum ambient air pollution levels are World’s 20 most polluted cities in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and in South-East Asia, followed by Africa and the list by - WHO Western Pacific. According to the information released by the  World Health Organisation has called upon WHO, fourteen Indian cities figure in a list of associated nations in its Southeast Asia Areas worlds’ 20 most polluted cities for particulate to address the double load of household and matter 2.5 levels in 2016. The particulate ambient air pollution as the region, which matter PM2.5 consists of pollutants comprises India, results into 34% like sulphate, nitrate and carbon, and these all premature deaths globally yearly. pose the higher risk to human health. Union Government releases The World Health Organisation Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database ranked draft of new Telecom policy on Kanpur as the maximum polluted city among - 1st May 2018 4300 world cities which were observed for The Union Government published the draft of their air pollution levels in the year 2016. a new Telecom policy- National Digital The additional Indian cities that listed very Communications Policy, 2018, on May 1st, peak levels of PM2.5 pollutants were 2018. The policy focuses to deliver broadband Faridabad, Varanasi, Patna, Delhi, Lucknow, coverage with 50Mbps speed to every resident, Agra, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Jodhpur and attract USD 100 billion investment in the Patiala. telecom sector and generate 40 lakh new jobs WHO Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution by 2022. Database Important Highlights UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 7 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 Policy Goals The fresh telecom policy draft limit of 3000m in Indian airspace for its focuses to make sure universal broadband compatibility with earthly mobile networks. coverage at 50Mbps to every resident.  Now, the government will work for generating  It proposes to provide One Gbps speed to all the license for a special class of service Gram Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps speed providers known as ‘In-flight connectivity by 2022. provider’.  It also suggests to address the woes of the Significance Telecom sector by rereading licence fees,  The implementation of this action will improve spectrum usage charges, and universal service the passenger experience, with passengers obligation fund charge for enhancing ease of being capable to order products from their performing trade in the sector. smartphones and laptops and having them  It also suggests aim to fascinate investments transported to their homes on arrival at their worth USD 100 billion in the digital com destination. sector by 2022.  Through in-flight mobile connectivity, cabin  Further, the policy understands the reputation crews will be able to assist travelers to alter of continued improvement in the regulatory their onward transit plans to lodge changes to framework for attracting investments and their flight, while they are still in flight. making sure fair-minded competition, to serve the requirements of the people.  South Western Command  It focuses to attract long-duration, high-quality conducts Exercise Vijay Prahar and sustainable funds, given the sector's capital-intensive nature. in - Rajasthan In-flight mobile connectivity in South Western Command of Indian Army is directing ‘Vijay Prahar’ workout in Mahajan Indian airspace approved by - area close to Suratgarh, Rajasthan. In this Telecom Commission workout, more than 20,000 troops are taking The high-powered inter-ministerial Telecom part with fighting apparatus for couple of Commission, led by Telecom Secretary Aruna weeks fine-tune joint efforts with the Indian Sundararajan, passed in-flight mobile Air Force. connectivity in Indian aeroplanes on May 1st, Key Points 2018, therefore, permitting people to o The month duration workout is focused to make phone calls and practice internet services orchestrate wide spectrum of threats which are in flights over Indian airspace. Telecom deliberate to be undertaken through high tempo Commission’s sanction comes months after the joint air and land procedure. telecom regulator TRAI suggested for in-flight o It consists of hundreds of aircrafts, thousands mobile telephony and internet services. of war-tanks and weaponry pieces supported In-Flight Connectivity by real time intelligence,  The Internet and Mobile Communication on surveillance, reconnaissance and logistic Aircraft service will be allowed as In-Flight sustenance. Connectivity in the Indian airspace. o The workout is being taken out to rehearsal  The Mobile Communication on Aircraft troops in penetrative manoeuvres around the facilities will be allowable with atleast height difficulty UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 8 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

ridden terrain under a nuclear parasol. In it, o Harendra Singh characterized India during formations of South Western Command will be 1985 to 1991, playing 43 games before retiring rehearsal and operationalising certain ground- at the age of 26. breaking concepts of operating in network o He joined to coaching in 1998 and has trained centric ecosystem. approximately 400 matches till date. o It will also organize integrated employment of o Harendra Singh trained the Indian men's modern sensors with weapon platforms, hockey side earlier from 2009-2011. He, engagement of attacking helicopters in air- however, resigned from the post following the cavalry role and brave offensive of application poor performance of the team during the Azlan of the Special Forces. Shah Cup in 2011 where they ended 6th. o The developments will refine their drills and o In 2014, he was designated as the coach of processes for fighting in nuclear environment Indian junior men's hockey team and had during course of the workout. commanded the team to clinch the Junior South Western Command World Cup in 2016. o The South Western Command of the Indian o The junior team had also secured gold in the Army was founded in April 2005 and became Asia Cup, the Eurasia Cup and the 4-Nation completely operational on 15th August 2005. contest prior to the World Cup. The command’s operational components o Overall, under Singh’s leadership, the senior include I Corps, formerly under Central and junior men’s team collected 8 gold medals, Command, and X Corps transferred from 5 silvers and 9 bronzes in various international Western Command. games. Hockey India appoints Harendra o In 2012, Singh was commemorated with the Singh as men’s coach, Marijne highest sports coaching honour in the nation, to return to women's side on - Dronacharya Award. o In November 2017, he was appointed as the 1st May 2018 chief coach of the women's hockey team after Hockey India designated Harendra Singh as Marijne was named as the men's coach, the chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey replacing the sacked Roelant Oltmans. team, on May 1st, 2018, replacing Sjoerd o Under his training, the women’s side that Marijne who will come back to his ended 12th at the Rio Olympics secured its 9th accountability as coach of the Indian Women’s Asia Cup title in Japan, in 2017. Hockey Team. 9th India-Japan Energy Under Singh’s leadership, the Indian women's Dialogue held in - New Delhi team finished an impressive 4th at the 2018 The ninth India Japan Energy Dialogue was Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. The organised in New Delhi. Both nations issued Indian men’s hockey team, however, had an Joint Statement at final day of the meeting, inacceptable run at Commonwealth Games approving to work together for energy security, 2018, as the team lost to England in the bronze energy access and climate change matters. medal playoff match, ending without a medal The meeting was headed by Minister of State for the 1st for Power and New and Renewable Energy time since Commonwealth Games 2006. R.K Singh and More about Harendra Singh Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 9 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

Industry Hiroshige Sekosigned. o Its references will be considered for Key Highlights of Joint Statement implementation by government. o Both nations decide to implement Nationally o The Ministry of Culture will be nodal ministry Determined Contributions under guidance of for festivities. CMs of different states, leaders United of various political parties, Gandhians, spiritual Nations Framework Convention on Climate leaders and social workers are believed to Change. witness the meeting. o They documented reputation of development Did you know? and deployment of next-generation The birthday of father of the nation will be technologies including hydrogen to understand honoured from 2 October, 2019 - 2 October, de-carbonization. 2020. Many programmes are designed to o Both nations decided to work together for organised at both national and international energy security, energy access and climate level to spread message of Mahatma Gandhi. change concerns. In 2018-19 budget suggestions, Finance o They further established their commitment to Minister Arun Jaitley had reserved Rupees work together to encourage transparent and 150 crore for the celebrations. diversified LNG market through lessening of India, US hold round 3 of destination clause. Maritime Security Dialogue in o They also decided to start debate on Electric Vehicles and commit to work Goa on - 30th April and 1st organized in promoting well-functioning May 2018 energy markets. India and USA organised the 3rd round of the President to preside over PM- India-United States Maritime Security headed panel on - Gandhi 150th Dialogue in Goa from April 30th -May 1st , 2018 focussing on birth Anniversary collaboration and progress in the Indo-Pacific President Ram Nath Kovind will control over region 1st meeting of National Committee for Key Points Commemoration of 150th Birthday of o During the 3rd round of dialogue, both sides Mahatma Gandhi in 2019. The committee is deliberated progresses in maritime domain in led by PM Narendra Modi and has 114 Indo-Pacific Region and interchanged opinions memberships on board including Vice on ways to further fortify bilateral maritime President M. Venkaiah Naidu, former PMs and security collaboration. Chief Justice of o They also studied implementation of decisions India, Lok Sabha Speaker, members of union booked during the earlier Maritime Security cabinet, political party leaders, CMs, Dialogues. Gandhians, spiritual o The next round of the dialogue will be gurus and social workers among others. organised in the United States on mutually Key Points convenient dates. o The 114 members committee will deliberate Did you know? policies, plans and preparatory activities for memorial of birthday. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 10 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS o United States has been forcing for broader role o The regulation will replace Commercial by India in strategically significant Indo- Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Pacific region. Appellate Division of High Courts Bill which o United States President Donald Trump had laid is awaited in Parliament. out his South Asia policy informing serious o It will carry down specified charge of part of it was to further advance United States’ commercial dispute to Rupees three lakh from strategic partnership with India. In June 2016, the current Rupees one crore. It also focuses to United States had elected India Major Defence bring down time taken from the current 1,445 Partner intending to raise defence trade and days in resolution of commercial disputes of technology sharing with India to level minor value. commensurate with that of its closest allies and o The modifications through ordinance delivers partners. for founding of commercial courts at district o India, United States and several other world judge level for grounds over which High powers counting have been talking about Courts Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and necessity to HP have ordinary original civil authority. ensure free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in o The regulation will be providing potential backdrop of China’s rising military effect so that specialist of the judicial forum manoeuvring in the currently adjudicating profitable disputes is not region. affected. o In November 2017, United States, India, Cabinet approved setting up of Australia and Japan had specified shape to long 20 AIIMS in - Pradhan Mantri pending Quadrilateral alliance to advance new strategy to retain the critical sea routes in Indo- Swasthya Suraksha Yojana Pacific free of Chinese influence. The Union Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi Ordinance to amend law for has sanctioned plan to form 20 AIIMS around the nation speedy disposal of and advancement of 73 medical colleges. The commercial disputes approved decisions are part of the Pradhan Mantri by - Cabinet Swasthya The Union Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi Suraksha Yojana, which has been prolonged by has sanctioned promulgation of Ordinance 2 years till 2020 with monetary outlay of amend a law for fast disposal of commercial Rupees 14,832 disputes. This decision focuses to advance crores. India’s position in World Bank’s comfort of Key Points doing business directory. The directory takes o The decision to spread Pradhan Mantri into consideration argument resolution Swasthya Suraksha Yojana is focused at environment in nation, which simplifies fulfilling shortcomings in healthcare investors in deciding for setting-up of and professionals and accommodations across the operation of a nation. business. o Forming new AIIMS in various states under Key Points Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana will renovate health education and training and UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 11 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

also assist to address shortcoming of healthcare intended beneficiaries of the plan are elderly professionals. persons aged 60 years and more than that. o It will result into employment generation The plan provides a confirmed pension for about 3,000 people in various faculty and grounded on a guaranteed rate of return of 8 non-faculty positions in each of AIIMS. 6 of per cent annually for 10 years, with a choice to 20 AIIMS have already been Formed. choose for pension on monthly, quarterly or o The creation of new AIIMS will be completely half yearly and annual basis. The differential funded by Central government and it will also return of return produced by Life Insurance tolerate operations and maintenance expenses Corporation of India and confirmed return of 8 of these facilities. per cent annually is borne by Government as Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana subsidy on annual basis. o Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana Restructuring of Indian Bureau was declared in 2003. Its aims are correcting of Mines approved by – Cabinet regional imbalances in availability of cheap The Union Cabinet has sanctioned and trusted tertiary healthcare services and restructuring of Indian Bureau of Mines by expand facilities for quality medical education upgradation, formation and abolition of certain in the nation. positions of Joint Secretary-level and above It is sponsored from various centrally o than that. Decision in this regard was directed supported schemes concerned to creating at Union Cabinet Meeting led by PM Narendra healthcare infrastructure. Modi in New Delhi.

Background  Cabinet doubles investment The Union Ministry of Mines had established limit for senior citizens under Committee for comprehensive ‘Review and which plan – PMVVY Restructuring of Functions and Role of Indian The Union Cabinet has sanctioned doubling of Bureau of Mines’ in the light of ‘National investment edge from Rupees 7.5 lakh to Mineral Policy’ 2008. The Committee Rupees fifteen lakhs under PMVVY. It also presented its report in 2012 which was stretched time limits for subscription from May recognized by the Ministry. 2018-March, 2020. Key Points These decisions were granted as part of The restructuring will assist Indian Bureau of Government promise to financial inclusion and Mines to effectively release its function to social security. It will enhance social security benefit reform and transform the regulation of creativities for senior citizens and enable them the mineral sector. It will enable Indian Bureau up to Rupees 10,000 monthly pension. of Mines to adopt IT and space technology Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana Indian Bureau of Mines to upgrade its Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana focuses effectiveness in mineral regulation and to provide social security during old age and progress. Further, it will involve great deal of safeguard elderly persons aged 60 years and decision-making and responsibility in more than that against a future fall in their functioning of Indian Bureau of Mines. The interest income due to indefinite market upgraded and enhanced performance of Indian conditions. It is applied through LIC. The Bureau of Mines through restructuring will benefit the mining sector. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 12 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

Indian Bureau of Mines sharing, maintaining, training, technical help Indian Bureau of Mines was formed by Central and coordination in scientific and technical and Government in March, 1948 under Ministry of technological issues. Works, Mines and Power. It is multi- Importance : disciplinary government unit involved in The protocol is path-breaking creativity in promotion of conservation, scientific progress fortifying global action against tobacco. It is of mineral resources and defence of also new legal tool in public health. It is wide- environment in mines other than coal, atomic ranging tool to counter and ultimately remove minerals, petroleum & natural gas and minor illegal business in tobacco products and minerals. It is HD located at Nagpur, fortifying legal dimensions for international Maharashtra. health assistance. Cabinet approves accession to View Pension WHO protocol to eliminate Passbook Service on Umang illicit trade in - Tobacco App launched by - EPFO products Retirement fund body EPFO has initiated View The Union Cabinet has approved the consent to Pension Passbook Service for pensioners on Protocol under World Health Organization Umang Framework Convention on tobacco control to Application. This facility was initiated part of remove illicit trade in tobacco goods. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation’s It will be appropriate to both smoking and plan to proceed chewing as negotiated and accepted under paperless by August this year and deliver all Article 15 of World Health Organization services online. It will permit pensioners view Framework Convention on Tobacco their pension Control. India is a party to World Health passbook on mobiles with the assistance of Organization FCTC. Umang application. Employees’ Provident Features of Protocol to eliminate illicit trade Fund Organisation is already giving various e- in tobacco products : services for its shareholders via Umang. It lays down responsibilities on parties and Umang app spells-out supply chain control measures that Unified Mobile Application for New-age must be accepted by parties while licensing Governance- producers of tobacco products and machinery o UMANG app goals to develop common, for production of tobacco items. It mainly unified platform and mobile phone app to ease handles those who are engaged in single point of access for government services manufacturing, tracking and outlining regime, through mobile phone. It is multi-utility record keeping and security. It also spells-out application and integrates with other main actions to be taken by those involved in e- government services of Aadhaar, Rapid commerce, production in free-trade zones and Assessment System, DigiLocker and Bharat duty-free sales. It publishes offences, Bill Payment System and many more and enforcement measures, for instance, seizures supports thirteen Indian languages. and discarding seized products. It calls for o It has been established by Ministry of international coordination in information Electronics and Information Technology and UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 13 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

National e-Governance Division. It had o They are almost always headed and caused by secured Best m-Government Service Award spell of forceful heat. Thunder-storms occur for Accessible Government Category at World when atmosphere has moisture and dust-storms Government Summit 2018. occurs when moisture is absent. Such events Employee Provident Fund Organisation take place due to local instability arising out of o Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation is deviation from simple temperature difference Union Government’s constitutional body that between upper and lower atmosphere. works under the guidance of Ministry of o In recent time rainstorms and dust-storms cases Labour and Employment. It is HQ in New in UP and Rajasthan, moist easterly winds Delhi. from Bay of Bengal stretched up to Himachal o It is one of largest social security organisations Pradesh colluded with dry winds from north- in India in terms volume of financial westerly direction. transactions undertaken and number o The two systems destabilised equilibrium of enclosed beneficiaries. It orders compulsory temperature difference between upper and contributory Provident Fund Scheme (1952), lower layers of atmosphere, leading to Pension Scheme (1995) and Insurance Scheme conducive conditions for thunderstorm and (1976). dust-storms. The final start, however, is Warning of another dust storm development of largescale air-circulation in UP, Rajasthan issued by - system. o Many parts of India witness build-up of surface Meteorological Department heat during present time of year. The places Indian Meteorological Department has released that were hit by current storms had seen heat- warning of another dust-storm and thunder- wave like conditions. storm in 200th Unilateral parts of UP and Rajasthan. The satellite pictures have revealed wind pressure Advance Pricing Agreement developing in 2 states inked by - CBDT leading to thunder-storms, gusty winds and The Central Board of Direct Taxes has entered heavy rain. It also has predicted thunderstorm into 200th Unilateral Advance Pricing along with Agreement after it squall is also more likely at isolated places inked one in April 2018. With the inking of over Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal and this, Central Board of Direct Taxes has Odisha. The new achieved another warning comes after 2 north Indian states were milestone of having signed its 200th UAPA. previous hit severe dust storm, which took The total number of Advance Pricing lives of over Agreements entered 100 people and left trail of destruction. into by Central Board of Direct Taxes so far Reasons for formation of rainstorms and has gone up to 220, which include 20 Bilateral duststorms APAs. The o Thunderstorms and dust-storms produced from UAPA entered in April, 2018 pertains to similar meteorological conditions. provision of sourcing support services. Advance Pricing Agreement UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 14 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS o Advance Pricing Agreement scheme released during the month. by Government endeavours to provide Simple Return design and easy IT interface certainty to where the B2B dealers will need to file taxpayers in domain of transfer pricing by invoice-wise particulars of the outward supply stipulating methods of pricing and setting accomplished by them, based on which, the prices of system will inevitably analyze his tax liability. international transactions in advance. Its Taxpayer will also be issued with user-friendly distribution was introduced in Income-tax Act, IT interface and offline IT instrument to upload 1961 in 2012 and Rollback provisions to it the invoices. were introduced in 2014. No automatic reversal of credit of input tax o The scheme gives certainty to MNCs that credit from buyers on non-payment of tax by decide on certain principles in valuation of the vender. In case of default in payment of tax their cross-border transactions. by the vender, retrieval will be accomplished o It also facilitated them with substitute dispute from the seller. resolution mechanism with respect to transfer Due process for recovery and reversal of tax pricing. will be done via a due process of releasing o It benefits in determining length price of notice and order. There will be a 3-stage international transactions in advance for transition in the fresh system. Stage-1 will be max period of five coming years. the current system of filing of return GSTR 3B o The scheme focuses fortify Government’s and GSTR 1. GSTR 2 and GSTR 3 shall resolution of fostering non-adversarial tax endure to be suspended. In stage-2, the fresh regime. return will have the provision to upload o It has meaningfully contributed towards invoice-wise information and also provision refining ease of doing business in India and has for claiming input tax credit on self- been treasured nationally and internationally declaration base. for being capable to address complex transfer India ranked 11th by - FDI pricing matters in a fair and transparent way. Confidence Index 2018

India was ranked at 11th place in the FDI  Simplified return filing process Confidence Index 2018 published by global approved by - GST Council consultancy firm A T Kearney. It has dropped One monthly Return allow all taxpayers to file down by 3 notches in 2018 as it was positioned single monthly return. Tax Return filing dates 8th in 2017 and 9th in 2016. This is 1st time will be blowout over a period of time, India fell out of the top ten since 2015. grounded on the turnover of the recorded Key Points person. The configuration dealers having zero o Top ten nations in FDI Confidence Index 2018 transaction will have to file quarterly return. are US at 1st, Canada at 2nd, Germany at 3rd, Unidirectional Flow of invoices will require UK at 4th, China at 5th, Japan at 6th, France at seller to upload one directional flow of 7th, Australia at 8th, Switzerland at 9th and invoices anytime in the month. This would be Italy at 10 th place. observed as the valid document to enjoy input o United States has topped position for the 6th tax credit by the buyer. Buyer would be able to year in a continuation mainly due to similar check the uploaded invoices uninterruptedly confidence result of its large market, robust UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 15 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

and sustained economic development and honour to journalists who had lost their lives recent commercial tax cuts. during their o Switzerland and Italy have come in the top ten profession. positions for the 1st time in over decade. The theme for year 2018 was ‘Keeping Power o Asia Pacific region: Investor preference for the in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of region outlook to have decreased slightly with Law’. It lime-lights reputation of enabling only 7 Asian nations give the impression on legal environment for press freedom and 2018 FDI Confidence Index. delivers special care to role of o Emerging markets: This year marks an all-time independent judiciary in guaranteeing legal low for the portion of emerging markets on assurances for freedom of press and index. Just 4 emerging markets have give the prosecution of impression among top 25 nations like China, criminalities against journalists. It also India, Mexico, and Brazil. addresses role of media in supportable o This proposes that self-assurance in investing development, during in specific emerging markets has decreased. elections for encouraging transparency, India: The fall in India’s rank may be due few responsibility and law rule. It also explores policies such as trials faced in implementation legislative breaks 2017 with regard to freedom of express and data countrywide GST and 2016 demonetisation online, and dangers of regulating online actions which disturbed business movement speech. and weighed on economic development which More about World Press Freedom Day has discouraged investors sentiments in short- o UNs General Assembly in December 1993 term. announced the World Press Freedom Day, after FDI Confidence Index the The FDI index is an annual examination of endorsement accepted at 26-Session of how political, economic, and regulatory UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. alterations will likely o This endorsement was an answer to a call affect FDI inflows into nations in forthcoming given by African journalists who in 1991 years. It is built using primary information shaped landmark Windhoek Declaration from proprietary survey administered to older on media pluralism and freedom. executives of world’s leading companies. o Since that date 3rd May, is celebrated as Corporations taking part in survey have yearly anniversary of Declaration of Windhoek and is revenues of $500 million or above. celebrated internationally as World Press World Press Freedom Day Freedom Day. celebrated on - 3rd May 2018 o Celebration of day delivers option to observe fundamental principles of press freedom; May 3rd was observed as World Press defend media from outbreaks on their freedom; Freedom Day on year basis to observe evaluate state of press freedom all over the fundamental principles of world and pay honor to journalists who died in press freedom and to assess freedom of press line of duty. across the world. It works as event to defend media from Online attacks on their independence and to pay professional development UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 16 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

programme for faculty launched current trends in their earmarked discipline by by - HRD Ministry June 15th every year. The Union Ministry of Human Resource NITI Aayog, IBM sign SoI to Development has initiated a chief and unique develop crop yield prediction initiative of online professional development of model using 1.5 million higher-education staff using the Artificial Intelligence on - 4th MOOCs platform SWAYAM. In the 1st phase of the initiative, 75 discipline-specific National May 2018 Resource Centres have been recognized. NITI Aayog and IBM inked a Statement of As per to an official Ministry announcement, Intent on May 4th, 2018 to advance a crop centres under the Ministry’s Pandit Madan yield prediction model using Artificial Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Intelligence to deliver real-time advisory to Teachers and Teaching situated in Central agriculturalists in aspirational districts. Universities, IITs, NITs, State The Statement of Intent was inked in the Universities, University Grant Commission’s presence of CEO of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant Human Resource Development Centres, and Karan Bajwa, MD IBM India. NITTT, IIITs, Open Universities and other Talking on the progress, Amitabh Kant institutions have been notified as National informed that bringing in future technologies Resource Centres. including Artificial Intelligence into real-world usage will have Key Highlights wonderful advantages for the agriculture o The National Resource Centres have been provided task with designing online training practice in the nation, refining efficiency in material with main focus on current progresses resource-use, crop productions and scientific in the discipline, new and emerging farming. The 10 ambitious districts inclinations, pedagogical developments and selected will be revitalized with cutting-edge methods for transacting reviewed curriculum. technological support to the leap-frog progress of agriculture-based economies. o The centres will cover wide disciplines including social sciences, sciences, engineering Main Objective and technology, design and manufacturing, The main objective of the contract is to enable humanities, language learning, commerce and collaboration in the usage of technology to management, education planning and provide insights to farmers to advance crop administration and public policy. productivity, soil yield, control agricultural inputs with the predominant goal of o The initiative will advantage the faculty, as it would be extremely elastic and can be done at improving farmers’ profits. one’s own speed and time. Key Highlights o The 1st phase of the project will aim on o Under the initiative, all working teachers, keeping apart their subject and seniority, will emerging the model for ten ambitious districts have the chance to be modernized with the across the states of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, latest growths in their disciplines through the MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and UP. online refresher course. o The possibility of the project is to announce and make available climate aware of reasoning o The National Resource Centres will advance the Refresher Module which will have the UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 17 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

farming techniques and classifying systems of Arun Jaitley declared that the government crop monitoring. would be taking over the stakes held in Goods o It also has weather advisory development, rich and Services Tax Network by private entities. satellite and improved weather forecast data Key Highlights along with IT and mobile apps with a aim on o Till date, 24.5% of Goods and Services Tax refining the crop outcome and price savings Network was retained by the central government through better farm management. and a same fraction was detained by the state governments collectively.  Cochlear Implant Awareness o The remaining 51% was retained by 5-private Programme to be organised by - financial institutions including HDFC Ltd, HDFC Social Justice Ministry Bank Ltd, ICICI Bank Ltd, National Stock Exchange Strategic Investment Co and Life DEPwD( The deptt. of Empowerment of Insurance Corporation Housing Finance Ltd. Persons with Disabilities which is the part of o The council has settled to a suggestion of buying Union Ministry of Social Justice and out the stake of private articles to make Goods and Empowerment organised a 'Cochlear Implant Services Tax Network a government-retained Awareness Programme' on 6th May 2018 at entity. HUDA Convention Centre in Faridabad, o After the move, the central government will own Haryana. 50% stake of Goods and Services Tax Network More about Cochlear Implant and the balance 50% would be collectively It is surgically implanted electronic device o detained by the state governments. providing sound to even severely deaf people. o The collective share of state governments will be It is expected to be a great help who are deaf o pro-rata, separated among states according to their and because of that they can't even speak. Goods and Services Tax ratios. o With the help of this device , children will be o However, the GSTN board shall be permitted to able to speak normally and hear things continue the present staff at current terms and normally. conditions for a time period up to 5 years and shall

have the elasticity of hiring people on contractual  GST Council approves basis as similar to those utilised by GST Network conversion of GST Network till date while hiring regular employees. into government holding on - First organised census of Indus 4th May 2018 Dolphins has begun - in Punjab The GST Council permitted the ownership Punjab government along World Wildlife change of Goods and Services Tax Network Fund- India are directing 1st organised census structure into a of Indus government holding on 4 th May, 2018. Dolphins, one of the world’s fewest mammals The GST council permitted changing of the IT found only in India and Pakistan. The planned backbone providing company to the GST into a census government-retained entity from being a focuses at conservation of the species. private company. The conclusion was taken at Key Points the end of the 27th meeting of the Goods and o The 1st planned census will be held over period of Services Tax council when Finance Minister 5 days in 185 kilometres area between Talwara UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 18 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

and Harike Barrage in Beas River in Punjab were Corporation. riverine fresh water Indus Dolphins are kept. More about APSTAR-6C o It will be led 2 joint teams of Department of o The operator of APSTAR-6C satellite is Hong Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Punjab and Kong grounded APT Satellite Co. Ltd. With is World Wildlife Fund-India. effective o Its chief focus is to begin accurate population of launch, it joins fleet of 4 fully operational satellites dolphins in order to plan out their conservation. be in the right place to APT Satellite Co. It will Indus Dolphin replace the in-orbit Apstar-6 satellite. o Indus Dolphin is subspecies of freshwater river o The Apstar-6C satellite is founded on DFH-4 dolphin present in Indus river and its Beas and platform. It is loaded with forty-five transponders Sutlej in C, Ku, and Ka bands, with calculated service life tributaries, flowing through India and Pakistan. of fifteen years. o It is national mammal of Pakistan. It is an o The satellite will deliver TV transmission, Internet, important indicator species of river’s health. communication and multimedia services to users o Its occurrence is considered as healthy river. Indus across Asia-Pacific region. dolphin like Ganges River dolphin is functionally o It will also deliver extreme-power transponder blind and depends up on echolocation to navigate, services for video circulation, broadband Internet communicate and hunt prey in muddy-river water. Access and Mobile phone backhaul. o Only 1,816 Indus dolphins are described to remain InSight Spacecraft launched by presently in lower parts of Indus River. - NASA They are patchily spread in 5 small, sub- o NASA launched the Interior Exploration using populations that are detached by irrigation barrages Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat across course of Indus river. Transport (InSight) Spacecraft to study the Their numbers have decreased intensely after o Mars’ deep interior on 5th May 2018. construction of irrigation system. It is registered by The InSight Spacecraft was launched on the the IUCN as scarce on its Red List of Threatened Atlas V rocket of the United Launch Alliance Species. (ULA) from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in Indus Dolphin was also found in Sutlej years back, o California, USA. but due to pollution in river its existence is on After this launch it has been marked as extinction in the river. NASA’s first interplanetary launch from the China launched communication US West Coast. satellite : APSTAR-6C Border Roads Organisation celebrated China effectively released “APSTAR-6C”, a 58th Raising Day on - 7th May 2018 new communication satellite into orbit. It was BRO observed its 58th Raising Day on 7th released May 2018. Border Roads Organisation is onboard of Long March-3B transporter rocket leading government from Xichang Satellite Launch Center. This organisation in ground of infrastructural was total development in the border areas of the nation. 273rd mission of Long March rocket sequence. Since its Both satellite and rocket were established by beginning in 1960, it has expanded from two to China nineteen projects. The works performed by it Aerospace Science and Technology have UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 19 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

guaranteed territorial integrity and socio- Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting economic rise in of most unreachable areas of Development nation. o Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting More about Border Roads Organisation Development is regional inter-governmental o Border Roads Organisation plays important role in organisation construction, maintenance and upgradation of servicing nations of UNs Economic and Social strategic infrastructure in far and remote border Commission for Asia and the Pacific in the area of areas of India. electronic media development. o It also advances and maintains road-networks in o It was recognized in 1977 under sponsorships of friendly neighbouring nations. It works under UNESCO. Defence Ministry and it was recognized on o It is presented by Government of Malaysia and its 7th May 1960 and is HQ in New Delhi. secretariat is situated in Kuala Lumpur. o Officers from Border Roads Engineering Service o The Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting and staffs from General Reserve Engineer Force Development is mandated to attain vibrant and form parent cadre of Border Roads Organisation. cohesive o It is also operated by generals and troops drawn electronic media environment in Asia-Pacific area from Indian Army’s Engineers Corps, Army via policy and resource progress. Service Corps, Electrical and Mechanical o Presently, it consists of 26 full members nations, Engineers and army workers on extra regimental represented by 34 associations and 67 Affiliate employment. Members and more than 50 associates in Asia, India to host 15th Asia Media Pacific, Europe, Africa and North America. Summit from - May 10 to 12th 2018  Hidden reserves of water ice India is going to organise 15th Asia Media discovered under surface of Summit- AMS 2018 in New Delhi from May moon by - Tohoku University 10th-12th, 2018. Researchers from Tohoku University, Japan The summit is being hosted by Asia-Pacific have discovered mineral known as moganite in Institute for Broadcasting Development in lunar meteorite that indicates to occurrence of partnership with plentiful hidden reserves of water-ice beneath its partners and worldwide organisations. the surface of the moon. The mineral found in Key Points a desert in north-west Africa could be o The subject of the yearly summit is ‘Telling our potentially beneficial for future human Stories- Asia and More’. exploration of moon. o It focuses to deliver unique options for Key Points broadcasters in Asia to portion their thoughts on o Moganite is a crystal of silicon dioxide. It is broadcasting and information. recognized to form on earth in specific o It will be witnessed by media specialists, scholars, situations in policy-makers and shareholders of news and sedimentary settings from alkaline fluids. It programming from Asia, Pacific, Africa, Europe, was, till date, never spotted in samples of lunar Middle-East and North America will take part in rock. the annual conference. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 20 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS o Scientists trust that mineral designed on target sites is important step in vaccine design. surface of moon in area called Procellarum Leptospirosis Terrane due to the originally present water in o Leptospirosis is an emerging tropical infectious lunar dirt that had evaporated due to bacterial illness that affects humans and acquaintance to strong sunlight. animals. o But in the subsurface, plenty of water remains o It caused by bacteria known as Leptospira. It in the form of ice. results into almost 60,000 deaths yearly, Key peptide to develop a globally. vaccine for leptospirosis o The bacteria can be communicated via exposure to contaminated water, soil, direct identified by - Gujarat contact with reservoirs hosts like wild or Biotechnology Research Centre domestic animals. Scientists from Gujarat Biotechnology o In humans, it can result into a wide range of Research Centre, Gandhinagar have effectively symptoms including simple headaches, muscle identified key peptide that can be utilised to pains, and fevers to severe with bleeding from produce a new preventive vaccine against the lungs or meningitis. leptospirosis. In their observation, scientists o Presently there is no preventive vaccination for had recognized peptide sequences that could humans that are available in market. stick to vaccine for long-lasting immune Vladimir Putin sworn in as response. Russian President for fourth Key Points o The scientists had utilised bioinformatics time on - 7th May 2018 approach to study complete protein pattern of Vladimir Putin took oath as the President of bacteria Russia for 4th time in the Grand Kremlin Leptospira inter organs important peptide and Palace, Moscow on May 7th, 2018. With this, tapering search to single effective Putin will now be working in the office of immunogenic protein. President for another 6 years. However, the o This protein was located to be present in Russian constitution bars him from running almost all serovars of bacteria and can be once again for the elections after the effective vaccine conclusion of his new term in 2024. candidate in contradiction to most other Now, Putin has the right to nominate his serovars. preferred candidate for the position of Prime o They had forecasted the ability to sticking to Minister. antibody present on T cells and B cells for Russian Presidential Elections 2018 inducing immune response. Important Highlights o Among these proteins, they had further found o Putin's 4th term comes after he earnt the to identify outer membrane proteins which presidential elections in March 2018 with 76% play crucial roles in interaction between of the votes to his name. bacteria and their host. Then they searched for o He defeated Communist Party candidate Pavel sites on human T-cells and B-cells where Grudinin, who got 11.8% votes. antigen could bind. The proof of identity of UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 21 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS o Other names in the presidential race were o It is intended to be used with less-power and Vladimir Zhirinovsky of the LDPR who got memory constrained Internet of Things 5.66% votes, gadgets, which are usually built from different o TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak who reveived microcontroller unit platforms. 1.67% votes and Grigory Yavlinsky who got o Android Things as an Internet of Things just over one% votes. Operating System it is intended to work as low o Vladimir Putin’s political career Putin was a as 32–64 previous agent for the Russian spy agency megabytes of RAM. KGB, who came out as Russia's PM in 1999 o It will support Bluetooth Low Energy and and he became temporary President of Russia WiFi. Google also presented Weave protocol in December 1999. along with Android Things, which will be o He took over the presidency at the age of 47 in utilised by these gadgets, will utilise to March 2000 and continue to secure his second communicate with others. term victory in 2004. o Every Android gadget can robotically o After working the 2nd term, Putin was banded recognize any Weave API grounded device. from running for a 3rd successive term by the o Subscribers can select a device, form it and Russian constitution, but as an alternative he utilise it immediately. became the PM and he assisted from 2008- 3rd edition of UNPCAP held in 2012. New Delhi from - 7th May - o If his stint as PM during 2008 to 2012 is counted, he is Russia’s longest ever ruling 25th May 2018 leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, who The 3rd edition of UN Peacekeeping Course was in ruling for 31 years. for African Partners was organised in New Delhi from May o He completed his graduate from the International Law branch of the Law 7 th -25th, 2018. The course was directed by Department of the Leningrad State University. Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping in Android Things for India in corporation with USA. IoT platform launched by - Key Points Google o UN Peacekeeping Course for African Partners- Alphabet Inc’s giant Google released Android 03 was focused at building and enhancing Things, which is a variant of Android capacity of the African Troop Contributing operating system for Countries to United Nations and to further train Internet of Things gadgets including smart instructors from these nations. home appliances and other smart machines. Its o The students who took part in this 2-week objective is to enable Internet of Things course included officers who are currently machines designers to be made faster, employed inexpensive and more secure. in their individual peacekeeping training More about Android Things centres. o It is Android-based embedded operating o These African military majors will in turn train system platform established by Google. troops in their individual nations. The 1st and UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 22 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

2nd editions of the course were organised in technology. New Delhi in 2016 and 2017. Key Objective o These courses are being seen as milestone in o Navigation satellite is secure with 3 atomic many ways at international forum, which also clocks. Besides atomic clocks, a navigation reflect satellite also contains crystal clocks but they India. are not as much as accurate as atomic clocks. India and UN Peacekeeping o The time difference among the atomic clocks o India is the biggest troop contributor to United of various satellites located at various orbits is Nations Peacekeeping Missions that are utilised to calculate the exact positioning of a authorized to preserve stability and exchange navigation receiver on the Earth. peace settlement in turbulent areas worldwide. o As nine of the 21 atomic clocks utilised in o So far India has delivered almost 200,000 already released 7 navigation satellites are troops in nearly 50 of 71 United Nations reflecting error, therefore, Indian Space peacekeeping missions over last 6 decades, Research Organisation deliberated to release 4 including 13 of present 16 missions. backup navigation satellites to retain the Atomic clock for indigenous NaVIC effective. navigation satellites developed o These backup satellites, will enhance buffer to the nation’s GPS system. by - ISRO The ISRO has advanced an atomic clock that Packaged food labels to display will be utilised in navigation satellites to measure precise location information. Till date, if they contain GM ingredients the space agency has been importing the by - FSSAI atomic clocks for its navigation satellites from The FSSAI projected on May 8 th , 2018 that the European aerospace producer Astrium. all packaged food products containing All 7 navigation satellites, which have been Genetically Modified contents should clearly released earlier as part of the Indian Regional mention it on their labels. In its 42 pages draft Navigation Satellite System, have 3 imported notification subjected ‘Food Safety and Rubdium atomic clocks each. Standards (Labelling and Display) Highlights of ISRO’s atomic clock Regulations, 2018’, Food Safety and Standards o The atomic clock has been advanced by Authority of India announced for making it Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre compulsory to label food items as ‘Ingredients and is presently undergoing a series of derived from GMO’, if the items contain 5% qualification tests. and above Genetically Modified ingredients. o Once tested effectively, the atomic clock will The authority will officially notify the be utilised in an experimental navigation necessities for implementation after carefully satellite to check its accuracy and durability in analysing the shareholders’ views on the issue. space. Highlights of the draft notification o With the progress of the atomic clock, Indian  The food regulator also recommended for Space Research Organisation has become one mandatory announcement by packaged food of the few space organisations in the world that producers about nutritional information are capable to develop this highly cultured including calories, total fat, trans fats, sugar UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 23 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

and salt per serving on the front side of thoughts on software and hardware aspects of the pack. Broadcasting.  The draft terrains for a colour code, suggests  It would also deliver openings for networking, that the high fats, sugar, salt and trans-fats facilities for business to business meetings and content should be coloured as ‘red’ if the value potential conversion of these conferences into of energy from them is above 10% of the total employment and economic relations after the energy in the 100gms or 100ml of the product. summit.  It will ease consumers to know about the Agenda nutritional value of food products and will  The agenda of the summit would have plenary assist them in making choices according to sessions on media regulation policies: ethics, their needs. rules and laws and our exciting tales. India to host 15th Asia Media  Similar sessions would be organised on Asian Summit in - New Delhi values as broadcasting subjects.  In the final session, World Television Awards The Union Ministry of Information and 2018 would be given by Minister of State for Broadcasting in partnership with the Indian Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Institute of Mass Singh Rathore. Communication, New Delhi and Broadcast  The concluding ceremony would see the Engineering Consultants India Limited, would handing over of the stick for hosting the be presenting the 15th Asia Media Summit in upcoming summit to Philippines. New Delhi from May 10th-12th, 2018. The Union Minister for Information, SoI inked with Google to Broadcasting and Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani help grow AI ecosystem in would be governing over the introductory India by - NITI Aayog ceremony of the summit as the Chief Guest on The NITI Aayog has inked SoI with search May 10th. engine giant Google to work collectively to Key Highlights boost growth for  The summit would be planned in 2 parts pre- India’s nascent artificial intelligence and summit workshop 8th-9th and summit from machine learning ecosystem, 10th-12th. Key Points  It is believed to witness participants from  Under the guidance of this program, Google ministries responsible for information and will train and incubate Indian Artificial broadcasting in the Asian region, international Intelligence start-ups in accelerator program. organizations including UNESCO, FAO,  These start-ups will be mentored and taught by United Nations, radio and television Google and its affiliates to enable them to broadcasting firms and broadcast equipment healthier leverage Artificial Intelligence in producers. their individual business models.  It goals to inspire regional and bilateral talks  Moreover, Indian scientists, scholars and and association to respond to tasks to the university faculty will be sponsored to assist broadcasting sector in the region. bolster research ecosystem for conducting  It would deliver a unique opption for Artificial Intelligence-based research. broadcasters in the Asian sector to share their UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 24 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 Further, Google will also come with its online remain spreading around the world, the United training programmes on Artificial Intelligence Nations Chief pressed for the requirement to to students, graduates and engineers to adopt collective actions to deal with it. He also various cities across India. stressed that the fresh plans must be grounded  Google will also organise hands-on training on investing in resilient progress with less programmes to sensitise representatives and carbon emissions. technical In March 2018, Guterres selected former New experts in governments about applicable York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as his Special Artificial Intelligence tools, and to utilise them Envoy for Climate Action who was provided for streamlining governance. task to support the UN in its climate strategy  Under this partnership, NITI Aayog and and in holding the 2019 summit. Google will equally organize AI-hackathon US withdrawal from Paris Agreement on that will Climate Change be attentive on solving important challenges  President Donald Trump on June 1st, 2017 within healthcare, education, agriculture, declared to withdraw the US from the financial, landmark 2015 Paris agreement to fight transportation and mobility etc. climate change. Did you know?  Donald Trump supposed that the Paris  NITI Aayog has been commended to form agreement would weaken the United States national programme to organise Research and economy, United States jobs cost and weaken Development in frontier technologies such as the American national authority. Artificial Intelligence.  The USA was one among 195 countries that  NITI Aayog has been progressing India’s had decided to sign the agreement in December national strategy on Artificial Intelligence 2015. along with National Data and Analytics Portal RED CROSS DAY celebrated to enable wide deployment and usage of globally on - 8th May 2018 Artificial Intelligence. World Red Cross day is celebrated every year UN Chief Antonio Guterres as the birthday of originator of the Red Cross announces to hold climate on 8 th of May. Henry Dunant was the summit in - September 2019 originator of the Red Cross and the founder of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio International Committee of the Red Cross, Guterres proclaimed on May 8th, 2018 to born in the Geneva in the year 1828. He was celebrate a climate summit in September 2019 very famous personality and also received in New York, for the revaluation of the first Nobel Peace Prize. promises of the 2015 Paris Agreement World Red Cross Day is a yearly programme, on Climate Change. observing the principles of “International Red The declaration was made at the inaugural Cross and Red Crescent Movement”. It is ceremony of the 37th session of the United observed annually to pay honour to the Nations Economic Commission for Latin volunteers that took part in the event America and the Caribbean. and welcome their priceless input for helping Seeing that the effects of climate change people in necessity. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 25 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

World Red Cross Day is observed by all the Global retail mega Walmart formally inked a segments of the Red Cross administrations to definitive contract to acquire 77% share in assist people by keeping in front it’s all Flipkart with an essential principles including humanity, investment of approximate USD 16 billion, on independence, neutrality, universality, May 9th , 2018. The deal will worth Flipkart at charitable and unity. It is celebrated to give around USD 20.8 billion, increase from its relief and peace to the injured people to during earlier evaluation of USD 12 billion. any kind of the disasters. Of the final deal amount of USD 16 billion, WORLD RED CROSS DAY HISTORY USD two billion will be fresh equity funding,  Red Cross was announced as a major while the balance will be used to buy share contribution to the peace after the World War-I from present investors including Softbank, by an international directive at Naspers and co-founder Sachin Bansal. 14th International Meeting of the Red Cross. Important Highlights  The philosophies of the Red Cross Truce  With this deal, Walmart focuses to transform were accessible and agreed on 15 Flipkart into a publicly-listed and major th International Conference at Tokyo in the retained subsidiary in the future. year 1934.  The Walmart and Flipkart deal is possibly the  The likelihood of its yearly observation was biggest in the e-commerce space and is asked to the League of the Red Cross Societies expected to effect the complete segment, be it by the International Federation of the the participants or the consumers. Red Cross Societies General Assembly and  The deal has created a worried with the small just two-years later the suggestion of observing vendors, who terror of being wiped off from this day yearly was accepted and was 1st the market. observed as the Red Cross Day on 8 th of May  Walmart has a status of finishing small in 1948. businesses with its most-low prices.  It benefits in initiating active efforts around the  If Walmart brings in its own private labels on world to decrease casual death rate due to Flipkart, it might make it difficult for rest of epidemic illnesses and battlefields. the vendors to operate. This major concern was  It permits its members, civil societies and other shared by the All India Online Vendors local communities to issue instant response to Association, which has 3500 vendors on large the health disasters in the vulnerable situations. platforms like Flipkart and Amazon.  Geneva agreements assist in monitoring the Positive side of the deal compliance of warring parties and it benefits in  Walmart’s investment will profit India in terms the treatment for war-prisoners and assist in of quality and reasonable goods for customers, finding the missing persons during war. creation of new jobs and fresh options for  It also benefits protection and nursing care to small vendors, farmers and women the people in civil populations. entrepreneurs.  Walmart's investment in Flipkart will give an Walmart buys 77 percent stake edge to Flipkart to contend with sellers like in Flipkart for USD 16 billion Amazon.  Moreover, Walmart’s extensive experience in on - 9th May 2018 retailing, logistics and distribution chain UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 26 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

management will assist Flipkart grow its also released a notification, making business without any problem. it mandatory for employers to pay salary either  For competition, the deal is supposed to electronically or through cheques, except in intensify the battle between Amazon and few special cases. Flipkart. On one side, this war could slash the Modern animal-free testing marketplace for small sellers, while, on the flip for drugs approved by - Indian side, this war between Flipkart and Amazon could result into a vast supply chain and large Pharmacopoeia Commission number of jobs production. Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission has in its President Ram Nath Kovind 2018 edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia passed modern, approved Minimum Wages animal-free tests for drug producers. It will (Delhi) Amendment Act, 2017 spare animals from suffering due to medicinal on - 4th May 2018 experiments. The Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment 2018 Indian Pharmacopoeia. Act, 2017 was formally notified on May 4th, It provides strategies on tests for medicines 2018 following the endorsement of the Bill by produced and marketed in India. It substitutes President Ram Nath Kovind on April 26th, pyrogen test 2018. carried-out on rabbits and abnormal-toxicity This fresh legislation amends the Minimum test carried out on guinea pigs and mice with Wages Act, 1948 and was approved by the tests that can Delhi Assembly on August 10th, 2017. The bill be accomplish in test tubes. These rules will was 1st tabled in 2015. come into effect from July 1st, 2018. Provisions of the Bill The pyrogen test will be substituted by  According to the amendment, the companies bacterial endotoxin test which can be done in violating labour rules in Delhi will now have test tubes. For fine ranging from Rupees 20000 to 50000 and abnormal toxicity test, Vaccine producers can jail term of 1-3 years. apply for waiver by receiving compliance  The employer will upload the company certificate from information on web portal in the manner as National Control Laboratory. arranged. Did you know?  The court will need to arrange it off within a  PETA India was pushing for removing away month from the date of filing. with cruel methods of testing on animals for  The rate of payment for overtime work will be the last many years. It had written to Indian not less than 2 times of the normal wages fixed Pharmacopoeia Commission in 2015 with under the Act or under any law of the various proposals. These proposals were appropriate government, whichever is on deliberated in a meeting of expert committee higher side. on vaccine standards that was organised  The modified law will act powerfully against in 2016 and few of them have finally the employers who do not pay complete sanctioned by Indian Pharmacopoeia minimum wages. The Department of Law, Commission. Justice and Legislative Affairs of the Delhi UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 27 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 Pyrogen test is done to detect impurity or side- Internet of Things platform, industry leading effects causing substances. For the test, drug is servers, Edge compute systems, HP-Pointnext administrated into rabbit and animal is closely services and wide-ranging ecosystem of studied for feverish symptoms. The abnormal associates. toxicity test is done to see the dangerous  Hewlett Packard Universal Internet of Things biological contamination in injection platform is critical to Integrated Control and preparations. This batch test is done before Command Commission, as it acclimatizes and product is permitted for marketing. In this, assimilates thousands of discrete sensors and guinea pigs are inserted with vaccine. The submissions on platform. scientists detect if there is death of any animal.  It will facilitate state government to manage India’s first Integrated Control and control various citizen services remotely and Command Centre for its via single smart cities launched by - platform.  These services consist of Smart Parking, Madhya Pradesh Lighting, Traffic, Transport, Smart Waste Bhopal Smart City Development Corporation Management Ltd. has introduced India’s 1st cloud-based and Smart Water systems. Common Integrated Data Centre, Disaster India ranks fourth in Asia- Recovery Centre and Integrated Control and Pacific region in - Asia Power Command Centre. It is powered by Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Universal Internet of Index Things Platform. India was positioned 4th out of 25 countries in Key Points Asia-Pacific region in the opening Asia Power  Integrated Control and Command Centre will Index facilitate MP State administration to monitor published by Australian think tank Lowy and Institute. administer multiple city civic conveniences More about Asia Power Index and citizen-services across 7 smart cities in It calculates overall power of nations and state through central cloud. territories in Asia-Pacific region. A nation’s  These 7 cities are Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, complete power is Indore, Ujjain, Satna, and Sagar. its weighted average across eight measures of  It will also facilitate state-wide monitoring of power – economic resources, military these cities from central command view and capability, result in diplomatic influence, economic relationships, noteworthy cost savings in comparison to resilience, future trends, defence networks and organizing full-fledged information and social disaster recovery influence. centre along with command control centres in Key Points every of these 7 cities.  3 of the world’s 4 largest economies are in  Hewlett Packard has delivered an end-to- end Asia and USA is Pacific power. solution for Bhopal Smart City Development  By 2025, 2/3 rd of world’s population will live Corporation Ltd. that syndicates its Universal in Asia, in comparison to just more than a 10th UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 28 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

in the West. As per this, United from project as royalty, income-tax, customs States remained to be renowned power in Asia, tariff and free energy in franchise period of while China, an evolving world-power is twenty-five years. quickly approaching to USA.  The project will also deliver 21.9 percent of the  It positioned Russia, South Korea, Australia, produced energy without any cost to Nepal. Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Did you know? New Zealand,  Arun-3 Project is biggest capacity project in Vietnam, Taiwan, Pakistan, Philippines and history of hydro-electricity of Nepal. It is North Korea as middle-powers, while planned to be Bangladesh, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Sri manufactured within coming 5 years on Arun Lanka, Mongolia, Laos and Nepal as river. It is an export-focused project and it will inconsequential powers. trade the electricity to India. Indian  The index organised that Japan and India are government has sanctioned investment of nations that share key power symbols. It Rupees 57.24 billion projected by SJVN in branded Japan as smart-power and called India Arun-3. giant of future. India was positioned 4th on  The project was believed to be built under parameters of economic resources, military support of World Bank Group few 2 decades capability and diplomatic influence. back. However, protests in contradiction of  It was positioned 5th on resilience. However, reservoir projects back then enforced World on the limits of cultural influence and future Bank to drop the project. trends, India recorded well by positioned 3rd in  The project was thereafter granted to the Indian both. organisation via competitive bidding for ten Nepal granted license to India’s years ago. Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd to generate power for project- India, Panama signed two Arun-3 Hydropower agreements in presence of - Nepal Government has approved power Vice President M.Venkaiah production licence to Indian government- Naidu maintained subsidiary Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam India and Panama have inked 2 contracts on Ltd from a 900 MW Arun-3 Hydropower exemption of Visas for Diplomatic and Official Project situated in eastern Nepal. The license Passports bearers and in the field of was arranged in line with the conclusion of Agriculture. These contracts were inked in the meeting of Investment Board Nepal board presence of cand President of Panama Juan of directors led by PM KP Sharma Oli. Carlos Varela Rodrigues in Panama City. It Key Points was 2nd leg of Vice President M.Venkaiah  IBN also has sanctioned various extensions for Naidu’s his 1st formal foreign visit to 3 nations monetary closure of the project. It consists Guatemala, Panama and Peru to strengthen local share and free energy to inhabitants of India’s ties with them. affected area. Key Points  Nepal government will also get advantages  India and Panama always had pleasant worth Rupees, in Nepali currency, 348 billion relations. These relations are grounded on our UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 29 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

common values and shared promises to permanent members of UN Security Council democracy, diversity, multi-culturalism, and viz. United States, China, France, Russia, and the rule of law. United  During Vice President M.Venkaiah Naidu’s Kingdom, in addition to Germany and EU, in visit, both nations determined to fight against Vienna in July 2015. terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.  The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is  India will form 2 centres for Biodiversity and intended at avoiding Iran from building nuclear Innovation in Panama worth US $10 weapon, million and US $15 million for each. complicated lifting of international  Both nations have decided to increase authorizations in return for Tehran curbing its collaboration in important areas by solidifying nuclear programme. collaboration in tax information, economic  This strategy made sure that Iran will assistance, air facilities, traditional drastically decrease its uranium enriching medicines, philosophy and space. capacity and levels, President Donald Trump enriched supplies and extractors and will withdraws US from Iran nuclear permit for stringent inspection and monitoring by international agencies including deal on - 8th May 2018 International Atomic Energy Agency. US President Donald Trump separately  In exchange for Iran compliance to contract, withdrew United States from historic 2015 Iran economic approvals that had kept Iran away nuclear deal from inked between Iran and P5+1 nations. It also international banking and the global oil trade reimposes authorizations on Iran that were were raised. raised by the  It permitted Iran to have business deals Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. President and also relaxed billions of dollars Iran had Trump management cited that it cannot avert foreign before multilateral permissions were Iran forced on Iran over its nuclear programme. nuclear bomb and nuclear deal is defective at NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY its essential as it does not target Iran’s ballistic missile DAY 2018 celebrated on - 11th programme, its nuclear actions beyond 2025, May 2018 and its role in fights in Yemen and Syria. National Technology Day is celebrated every However other year on 11th May in India, as a prompt of the parties to the deal China, France, Russia, anniversary of Shakti. Shakti is the Pokhran United Kingdom, Germany and European nuclear test which was organised on 11 May, Union are still 1998. The day lime-lights the significant role favouring it, thus evading complete collapse of of Science in our daily lives and inspires Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. students to embrace Science as a career option. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Various programmes are held in different  It is casually known as ‘Iran nuclear deal’. It is technical institutes and engineering colleges to multi-lateral nuclear deal inked between Iran celebrate the day. Competitions, quizzes, and 5 lectures, interactive sessions and presentations UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 30 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

of various aspects of Science are held Ambani is the only Indian businessman to worldwide. The day is vital for engineers, feature in the list of 75 most powerful people planners, scientists and others who are across the globe. involved in nation building and governance. Important Highlights HISTORY OF NATIONAL  Mukesh Ambani ranked 32nd on the Forbes's TECHNOLOGY DAY World's Most Powerful People list.  National Technology Day is celebrated to  With the launch of 4G phone service Jio in memorialize the nuclear test which was 2016, Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited organised in Pokhran on 11th May, 1998. This gained momentum in India, while PM Modi was a prideful event for all the residents of emerged as a key figure on international front India. to tackle climate change.  The day also admirations the significance of  Chinese President Xi Jinping is on the top of Science in our day to day lives. It was on the the list for the first time, replacing Russian 11 as well as the 13th of May in 1998 when President Vladimir Putin, who slipped to 2nd India directed 5 nuclear tests at Pokhran, place after being named as the most powerful Rajasthan. person in the world for four consecutive years.  The initial 5 tests were directed on 11 th May  US President Donald Trump is ranked third. when 3 nuclear bombs were exploded while  British Prime Minister Theresa May took 14th recording an earthquake of 5.3 Richter scale in place. the close seismic stations. Balance of the 2 Naval Commander’s tests were accomplished on 13 May, since then Conference concluded on - 11th National Technology Day is observed in India. May 2018  President of India delivers National Technology Award to persons as well as The first biannual Naval Commander’s organisations for their immense contribution to Conference of 2018 concluded on May 11th, science. 2018 after four days of intense deliberations. The conference was by Union  On this day, students of India also plan their visits to various laboratories to grab Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman information about the recent developments in inaugurated the conference. the areas of pharmacy, science and research Sitharaman also assured the Naval work. Commanders that their endeavours to bridge PM Modi ranked 9th in the critical capability gaps in fleet support ships, ship-borne helicopters, and submarines would World's - Most Powerful People be progressed by the Government. The list 2018 Minister also extended support to the long- Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ranked term capability acquisition plans of the navy among the 10 most powerful people in the that 2018 World's Most Powerful People list in the have been precisely formulated with a strategic world where Chinese President Xi Jinping view of the Indo-Pacific region. stood first. As per the World's Most Powerful People list released on 8th May, 2018, Important Highlights Reliance Industries (RIL) Chairman Mukesh UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 31 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 There were deliberations upon the imperative  Doing away with 6 percent goods and services need for approval of the second indigenous tax within 100 days of taking office. aircraft carrier for the navy during the  In 2015, the taxes were introduced and this conference. thing was widely blamed by the citizens as it  This project along with the other shipbuilding affected their rising living cost. projects already started or in the pipeline  To reintroduce gasoline subsidies, which could including MCMVs (Mine Counter Measure turn out be a bonus for consumption. Vessels),LPD(Landing Platform Dock), Anti-  To increase petroleum royalties to oil- Submarine Shallow Water Craft, Diving producing states and raising minimum wages. Support Vessels and Survey Vessels are Flipkart co-founder Sachin expected to boost the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative Bansal quits after Walmart deal of the Union Government. on - 9th May 2018  The major shipbuilding projects in Indian shipyards that include both private and public result in the jobs creation. These also provide Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal announced encouragement to MSMEs to his exit from the company on May 9th, 2018, develop indigenous technologies and to hours after the news of American retailer manufacture units in support of them. Walmart acquiring Flipkart broke nationally. He stated in a post on social media  The next edition of the Naval Commander’s Conference will be taking place at the end of that it was time for him to hand over the baton 2018 probably in October or November. and move on. “Flipkart truly upheld audacity and customer Former Malaysian PM Mahathir centricity and I got to work with the best people. Mohamad returned to power on We took on some of the biggest challenges and - 10th May 2018 solved many complex problems for India,” he Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as the said. seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia on May He further added saying, “sadly my work here 10th, 2018 making a stunning comeback to is done and after 10 years, it’s time to hand politics 15 years after his retirement. Mohamad over the baton and move on from Flipkart but claimed election victory in the country’s I’ll be watching and cheering from the outside General Elections 2018 and after this he — Flipsters, you better continue to do a good becomes the world's oldest Prime Minister at job!” the age of 92. Looking ahead, Sachin is planning to take time Mahathir's coalition, Pakatan Harapan has won off to finish personal projects, catching up on 121 out of 222 seats. Mahathir's coalition gaming and brushing up on his coding defeated the governing BN(Barisan Nasional) skills. Binny Bansal, on the other hand, will be coalition led by Prime Minister Najib Razak, retain his 5.5 percent stake in the company and which has been in power for over 60 years. BN remain Flipkart Group CEO. Kalyan coalition managed to win 79 seats only. Krishnamurthy will also be continuing as CEO Mahathir’s policy pledges of Flipkart.com. More about Sachin Bansal UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 32 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 Born on August 5th, 1981, Bansal is an Indian selling his 5.5 percent stake for a little for Software engineer and Internet entrepreneur. about $1 billion.  He along with Binny Bansal, both IIT  The other co-founder, Binny Bansal, however, graduates founded India's largest e-commerce would be staying back and will be a board platform Flipkart as an online bookstore back member along with Flipkart CEO Kalyan in 2007. Krishnamurthy.  Though they share the same surname but both National Technology Day of are are not related. India celebrated on - 11th May  Before starting Flipkart, both Sachin and Binny worked with Amazon India as software 2018 engineers but they decided to leave within a The National Technology Day was observed short span of time to start something of their across India on May 11th, 2018 to celebrate the own. anniversary of Pokhran nuclear tests of 1998. The day is also marked India's  Though initially they thought to start a comparison search engine, but they realised technological advancements and scientific that the market for e-commerce in India was prowess. very small. Important Information  The Union Ministry of Science and  So they launched Flipkart from an apartment with 4, 00,000 rupees cash in Bangalore. Technology celebrates National Technology Day on May 11th every year.  During the initial days of Flipkart, Sachin and Bansal used to deliver books across Bengaluru  This day is considered as a pursuit symbol for on their scooters. scientific inquiry, technological creativity and the conversion of that pursuit in the integration  Based on performance ground, in August 2016 Sachin was removed as a CEO of Flipkart. of society, industry and science.  On the same occasion, various events are being More about Flipkart’s Acquisition organized in technical institutions and  Walmart, one of the world’s largest multinational retailers acquired Indian e- engineering colleges as well. commerce platform Flipkart in a $16 billion  Interactive sessions,lectures, presentations, deal on May 9th, 2018. quizzes, and competitions are also held to mark the day.  The US-based company, Walmart bought 77 percent stake in Flipkart from the existing  The Indian president also presented National shareholders including Japan’s Softbank Technology Award on this day to individuals Group. and companies for their strong contribution towards science.  So far, the deal is the biggest merger and acquisition in India and marked the entry of  Technology and science ministers have also Walmart into the Indian retail business. come forward to celebrate this day by organizing various kinds of events for science  With 77 percent stakes, Walmart will be having the controlling rights in Flipkart. development in the country.  As a part of Walmart’s condition that it could SpaceX launches most accommodate only one of the Flipkart founders powerful Falcon 9 rocket on - in the board, Sachin Bansal has resigned, 11th May 2018 UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 33 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

The California-based aerospace company SpaceX launched its most powerful rocket yet  Indian and Malaysian Armies ‘Falcon 9’ on May 11th, 2018, which is concluded Exercise Harimau expected to carry human beings to space later this year. Shakti 2018 on - 11th May 2018 The rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral, Indian and Malaysian Armies concluded the Florida USA with an aim to propel Exercise Harimau Shakti 2018 on May 11th, Bangladesh’s first high-orbit communications 2018 at the tropical rainforests of Hulu Langat, satellite, namely, Bangabandhu Satellite-1. Malaysia. The grand finale of the Exercise was It was initially expected to launch it on May a tactical operation on conduct of attack at the 10th, 2018, but due to triggering of the enemy camp. automatic abort switch, the launch was During the exercise, both the contingents postponed in the last minute. showcased extremely high standards of their professional acumen,battle drills, operational Important Highlights abilities and physical endurance, an  Named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Bangladesh who was appropriate reflection of the level of assassinated in 1975, the spacecraft will be interoperability achieved by them during the providing data services during a 15-year Exercise. mission. This was the first time when the exercise was organised on the Malaysian land. Its title takes  The satellite will also be offering video and communications coverage over Bangladesh its name from ‘Harimau’, the Malay word that and its territorial waters in the Nepal, Sri stands for ‘tiger’. Lanka, Bhutan, Bay of Bengal, India, the Highlights of the HARIMAU SHAKTI 2018 Philippines, and Indonesia. o As a part of the exercise, both the nations shared the expertise of each other’s contingents  It will also be providing broadband connectivity to rural areas throughout the while conducting counter insurgency country. operations in the jungle terrain of Malaysia. o 4 GRENADIERS represented by Indian  The satellite was built by Thales Alenia Space of Cannes in France. contingent, one of the oldest infantry battalions that have rich operational experience in  The Block 5 Falcon 9 rocket is, ultimately, meant to carry astronauts to the International conventional and counter insurgency warfare. Space Station (ISS) around December 2018. o While, the Malaysian contingent was represented by soldiers from 1 Royal Ranjer  If things happen as planned, it will be the first time that a rocket will carry people to space Regiment and the Royal Malay Regiment; both since the end of the US space shuttle program are known for their experience in Jungle in 2011. Warfare. o The exercise involved a cross training phase  The rocket is built to re-fly up to 10 times with minimal refurbishment aiming to bring down followed by a field training phase of a week in the cost of spaceflight. the Hulu Langat jungles wherein both armies jointly planned and executed a series of  The Falcon 9 Block 5’s avionics are multi-fault tolerant, that means this rocket can still reach training activities. orbit after multiple system failures. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 34 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS o The focus of the entire exercise was on tactical evaluation and to inform near-term policy operations in jungle warfare. progress and development. Government to expand  NASA’s carbon Buddhist tourism circuit to 21 monitoring project cancelled by more states under - Swadesh - United States Darshan Scheme United States President Donald Trump’s Ministry of Tourism has finalised to expand administration has negated NASA’s Carbon Buddhist tourism Journey under Swadesh Monitoring System Darshan Scheme programme quoting reasons of budget to 21 extra states to make it India’s 1st trans- constraints and higher priorities within science national tourist Journey. Previously, it was budget. It was also in streak with Donald imagined only to 7 major Buddhist pilgrimage Trump’s modern broad attack on climate sites in UP and Bihar. science. Key Points Carbon Monitoring System Programme o Now, Ministry of Tourism has recognized o NASA’s Carbon Monitoring System stupas and viharas in these 21 states, around Programme costing $10 million annually was which small intra-state Buddhist zones will be intended to track key greenhouse gases, carbon established. The states are MP, Rajasthan, and methane, that results into global warming. Kerala, West Bengal, Goa, Gujarat and J&K. o It also pursued sources and sinks for carbon o The expansion of Buddhist tourism Journey and finished high-resolution models of planet’s focuses to attract new-age Buddhist tourists flows of carbon. It was intended to make from the West, besides those from traditional important assistances in characterizing, markets in South-East Asia. quantifying, understanding and forecasting o The ministry is in talks with World Bank evolution of global carbon sources and sinks and Japanese government for capital support via upgraded monitoring of carbon stocks and for the infrastructure projects linked with fluxes. Buddhist tourism Journey. o The System utilises complete range of NASA o It also aims to include the private sector in satellite observations, modelling and building tourism infrastructure relating to investigation the Journey. capabilities to create accuracy, quantitative More about Swadesh Darshan Scheme uncertainties and usefulness of products for o The Union Ministry of Tourism had released supporting the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2014-15 with national and international policy, regulatory an objective to advance theme-based tourist and management actions. journeys in the nation. These tourist journeys o Carbon Monitoring System also preserves will be established on principles of high tourist global emphasis while delivering finer scale value, attractiveness and sustainability in a regional data, using space and surface-based combined manner. information. It had started production and o They will be established by synergizing efforts circulation of products both for operator to attention on anxieties and requirements of UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 35 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

all shareholders to enrich tourist experience from Domestic Violence Act, 2010. and augment employment options. Key features of the Act: o Under this plan, 13 thematic journeys o The act looks forward to cover those women have been recognized for progress. who are in a relationship with the violence o They are Buddhist Journey, North-East India where both parties have lived together in a Journey, Coastal Journey, Himalayan Journey, common household and are related by Krishna Journey, Desert Journey, Eco Journey, marriage or any relationship in the nature of Wildlife Journey, Tribal Journey, Rural marriage, and adoption. Journey, Spiritual Journey, Ramayana Journey o Even those women who are sisters, widows, and Heritage Journey. mothers, single-females, or living with them Women can file domestic are permitted to get legal protection under the violence complaint even after proposed Act. o Domestic violence consists of actual violence divorce by - Supreme Court or the threat of violence that is physical, The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that a sexual, verbal, emotional and economic. woman can file a complaint under the domestic o Annoyance by way of illegal dowry anxieties violence law to the woman or to her family members would against the cruel acts accomplished by her ex- also be husband even after their divorce. The ruling encompassed under this act. was sanctioned by a 3-judge bench consisting o The act also delivers for the woman’s right to Justices Ranjan Gogoi, R.Banumathi and live in the marital/shared house, whether or not Navin Sinha. The ruling came on an she has any rights in the house premises. application that challenged an order by the UNDP to set up skill Rajasthan High Court. Protection of Women from Domestic development centre in - Violence Act, 2005 Hyderabad o The act focuses to deliver ample effective The UNDP would shortly be forming a skill protection of the women’s rights definite under development centre at Bharosa which would be the Constitution who are violence victims of a joined support centre for upset women and any type, happening within the family. children in Hyderabad, Telangana. The centre o It was carried into force by the Indian would be focused at authorizing vulnerable and government from October 26, 2006. The act 1 marginalised females by imparting skills st time delivers a definition of 'domestic training. violence' in Indian law, with this definition Key Highlights being wide-ranging and including not only o Bharosa, is a state-of- the-art centre formed by physical violence, but also other types of the Hyderabad City Police to take care of violence including emotional, verbal, sexual females and children who are victims of abuse. and economic violence. o Since its establishment in 2016, a sum of 3,560 o The act spreads throughout the India except for fatalities have approached the centre with a the state of J&K, which has its own law- variety of issues. Jammu and Kashmir Protection of Women UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 36 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS o Among these, more than 2,600 victims have national market for agricultural commodities sought assistance with regard to domestic by integrating present Agriculture Produce abuse. Market Committee markets. It delivers single o The United Nations Development Programme window service for all Agriculture has suggested to form a skill development Produce Market Committee related services centre and data, for instance commodity arrivals and completely for the clients of Bharosa. prices, provision for replying to trade offers o The essential arrangements for designing of the among other services. It was released in April centre are already ongoing and it would initiate 2016. It is being executed in different phases to in the next 2-3 months. integrate 585 regulated markets across nation o The discussions with agencies that provide with common e-market platform by March training are also under process. The training 2018. Small Farmers’ Agribusiness period will differ on the basis of the nature of Consortium is the principal promoter of skill imparted. electronic National Agriculture Market. On o A huge number of victims who contacted this platform, farmers can exhibit their produce Bharosa centre are not much educated. online from their nearby market and dealers o Hence, the skill trainings would be providing can quote price from anywhere. It focuses to based on the educational qualification of the foster superior competition between buyers and victims. also make sure open price discovery and 200 more mandis to eNAM to healthier returns to farmers. be linked by - Union Government  India, Nepal flag-off Janakpur- Union Government is going to connect extra Ayodhya bus service under 200 wholesale mandis to online trading Ramayan Circuit on - 11th May platform electronic 2018 National Agriculture Market- eNAM, this Indian PM Narendra Modi and his Nepalese fiscal year and also inspire inter-mandi counterpart K.P.Sharma Oli mutually flagged- transactions. Presently, 585 regulated mandis off a direct bus service between the 2 sacred in fourteen states are connected with the cities Janakpur and Ayodhya, as part of the eNAM. Till date, 73.50 lakh farmers, 53,163 ‘Ramayan Circuit’ on May 11th, 2018. commission mediators and more than one lakh The bus service was released during Prime dealers are registered on it from these Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal during fourteen states. Government is guaranteeing May 11th -12th , 2018. This was the 3rd visit that all wholesale agri-mandis adopt online of Prime Minister Modi to Nepal and the 1st sale and gradually permit trading among high-level visit from India since mandis in state and ultimately between mandis the establishment of the new Government in outside states, thus forming single national Nepal in 2018. agriculture market for the profit of farmers. Religious tourism in Nepal and India eNAM electronic National Agriculture Market o The bus service looks forward to promote is pan-India electronic trading web portal for religious tourism in Nepal and India. farm produce which focuses to form unified UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 37 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS o According to the mythological story consumption, ‘Ramayana’, Ayodhya is Lord Rama’s energy, essential consumption, raw materials, homeland, while, Janakpur is the homeland of medicine, healthcare and various other Goddess Sita. industries. o Janakpur is known for the Janaki temple of o The deposit will also be valuable for the huge Janakpur, which was constructed in memory of investors, it will add a low-relevant asset to the Sita in 1910. distribution tool that can successfully progress o The bus service will deliver Janakpur- the effective frontier of the investor's asset Ayodhya- Janakpur carriage facility to distribution and benefit the investor to better pilgrims. spread hazards and obtain a much steady Ramayana Circuit revenue. o The Ramayana Circuit is among the 13 Three public welfare schemes thematic circuits recognized for progress under launched in - Rajasthan Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Union Ministry President Ram Nath Kovind released 3 public of Tourism. welfare schemes during his maiden 2 days visit Under the Ramayana Circuit, fifteen o as head of terminuses have been recognized for progress. the state to Rajasthan on May 13th , 2018. The Chinese state-run bank ICBC President released Sundar Singh Bhandari EBC launches India-dedicated Swarozgar Yojana, Bhairon Singh investment fund on - 14th May Shekhawat Antyodaya Swarozgar Yojana and 2018 loan and interest waiver scheme for SCs, STs, OBCs, sanitation workers, and the physically Chinese state operated bank ICBC started the challenged at a function organised at the Birla nation's 1st India-dedicated publicly accessible Auditorium in Jaipur. The schemes were investment fund, known as the ‘ICBC Credit publicized by the Rajasthan state government Suisse India Market Fund’ on May 14th , 2018. during its 2018-19 budget presentation. This noteworthy move came just after the 1st Schemes Announced ever casual summit between PM Narendra 1- Sundar Singh Bhandari EBC Swarozgar Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping which Yojana was organised in April 2018 at Wuhan. Under the scheme, the government will issue Highlights of the ICBC Credit Suisse India loans of equal to Rupees 50000 to members of Market Fund economically backward classes from about o It is the China's 1st publicly accessible fund for 50,000 families at 4% rate of interest. investing in India and it will participate in This scheme will benefit poor sections of the exchange-traded funds registered on above society to produce self-employment. twenty exchanges in Europe and in the USA 2- Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Antyodaya that are grounded on the Indian market. Swarozgar Yojana o It will invest in the future of the Indian Under the scheme, the state government would economy and record the distribution of the issue loans equal to Rupees 50000 at 4% rate industrial structure across the Indian market. of interest approximate 50,000 families from o The capital will aim on different sectors the SCs and STs and OBCs for self- including the financial industry, IT, alternative employment. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 38 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

3- Loan waiver scheme Lanka from South-Asia and Myanmar, Under the scheme, the Rajasthan state Thailand from South-East Asia. government would be issuing Rupees two lakh o They are jointly home to approximately 1.5 worth interest-free loans to people belonging to billion inhabitants which form around 22 per Schedule Cast/Schedule Tribes community and cent of global population. OBCs for the purpose of skill development and o Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral to create employment resources. Apart from Technical and Economic Cooperation was this, the President presented cheques to a few recognized on 6th June 1997 via the Bangkok beneficiaries under the 3 fresh schemes. Declaration. Its HQ is in Dhaka, Bangladesh. o Its chief aim includes technological and Rajasthan government’s other major economic collaboration between south Asian welfare schemes and south-East Asian nations along the Bay of The state government in its 2018-19 budget Bengal coast. presentation declared the distribution of free- o It is sector-driven supportive organization, scooters to the 200 meritorious girl children starting with 6 sector consisting business, who got 85% or above marks in 10 and 10+2 technology, energy, transport, tourism and class. fisheries. The government also declared pre and post o In 2008, it was extended to hold 8 additional metric scholarship with a total amount of sectors including agriculture, Public Health, Rupees 273.50 Poverty mitigation, combat crores under EBC scheme. terrorism, environment, culture, people to Nepal to host 2018 BIMSTEC people contact and climate change. summit announced by - Nepal’s Indian Army finalises Rs. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli 15000 crore indigenous Nepal is planning to organise 2018 BIMSTEC- ammunition project that is - Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Made-In-India Technical and Indian Army has finalised Rupees 15,000 Economic Cooperation summit. It was crores Made-in- India ammunition project declared by Nepal’s PM K.P.Sharma Oli under which variety during his meeting with of ammunition for its serious weapons and Indian PM Narendra Modi in Kathmandu. tanks will be developed in India. It is More about BIMSTEC demanded to be biggest o Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral ever initiative for Made in India ammunition. It Technical and Economic Cooperation is the focuses to overwhelmed prolong interruptions sub-regional group of 7 nations in South-Asia in imports and address issues of dwindling and South-East Asia situated in the littoral and stockpile. adjoined areas of the Bay of Bengal Key Points constituting a contiguous regional consensus. o The instant objective of this project is to form o Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral an inventory for all big weapons to enable Technical and Economic Cooperation nations forces to fight 30 days war while long-term are India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri aim is to slash necessity on imports. For this, UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 39 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

eleven private firms will be intricate and its nitrate was utilised for its capacity to control application will be monitored by the top brass combustion rate and lower freezing point of of Indian Army and Defence Ministry. propellant. o The whole cost of project has been attached at o The propellant preparation was tested for Rupees 15,000 crores. Indian Army has form compatibility with 4 metal samples over period specific of 6 months. target for coming ten years in terms of volume o Moreover, different variety of tests to study its of ammunition to be developed. characteristics, including thermal and catalytic o Initially, rocket ammunition, air-defence decomposition and compatibility was assumed system, weaponry guns, Grenade launchers and with various materials. various different field weapons will be o Hydroxylammonium nitrate-based manufactured under stringent timelines. monopropellant will substitute conventional o The manufacturing aims will be revised based hydrazine rocket fuel, which is a highly toxic on result of 1st phase of project and carcinogenic chemical, with greener implementation propellant for future projects. It will also make o The project seeks as 1st serious attempt by sure cost effective re-usable, recoverable, re- Government to address increasing worries start and reliable space launches of Indian voiced over last many years by Indian Army Space Research Organisation. over fast decreasing stockpile of important o Due to its better-performance characteristics, ammunition considering the developing hydrazine has subjugated space industry as security threats in the region and a at time choice of propellant for more than 6 decades when China is knowingly ramping up its despite hazards. military capability. Environment- 4th meeting of SAWEN held in friendly propellant being Kolkata, India from - 8th May - developed by - ISRO 10th May 2018 Researchers at ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion The 4th meeting of South Asia Wildlife Systems Centre are working on environment- Enforcement Network, which is an inter- friendly governmental wildlife law enforcement body propellant blend grounded on was organised in Kolkata, West Bengal from hydroxylammonium nitrate to energise May 8th -10th , 2018. It was 1st meeting of satellites and spacecraft. It looks South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network to forward to take place of conventional be organised in India since its inception in hydrazine fuel for future missions. 2011. Key Points Key Results o Hydroxylammonium nitrate-based  The 2-day meeting was witnessed by monopropellant formulation consists of representatives of 7 out of 8-member nations hydroxylammonium nitrate, ammonium excluding Pakistan. nitrate, methanol and water.  6 proposals, including tracking of wildlife o The methanol was supplemented to decrease smuggling route, review of present laws and combustion instability and hydroxylammonium UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 40 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

structure for the organisation were listed Office of during the conference. Phagwara.  Participating nations also accepted various Key Points resolutions to control wildlife crime in the  This kendra was 192 nd Post Office Passport region. They decided on having operational Seva Kendra in the nation and 1st one to be framework for fortifying the regional body to functioned by a whole-woman team. It was fight against wildlife crime. released as part of Central Government’s South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network initiative for females’ empowerment.  South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network is  It will supply requirements of people from regional inter-governmental wildlife law Kapurthala, Nawandhar and Jalandhar rural enforcement districts. support agency of South Asian Nations.  It will advantage people immensely in this area  It was released in January, 2011 in Paro, as town is Non-Resident Indian hub of Doaba Bhutan during the 2nd meeting of the South region of Punjab. It will permit people of the Asia Expert Group on Illegitimate Wildlife region to avail all facilities related to applying Trade. and  Its secretariat is in Kathmandu. Its local dispensation of passport submissions. network consists of 8 South Asia nations Post Office Passport Seva Kendra i.e. Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal,  Post Office Passport Seva Kendra is Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Government initiative ruled by Indian Ministry Mandate of External Affairs and Department of Posts,  South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network where Head Post Offices and post offices are focuses at working jointly as a powerful being used for delivery of passport concerned regional inter- services to inhabitants. governmental agency to fight against wildlife  It focuses to deliver passport concerned corruption by attainting common mutual aims services on large scale and to make sure wider and methods for fighting against unlawful area coverage for streamlining process to trade in the region. overseas traveling.  It also looks forward to control trans-boundary  The 1st Post Office Passport Seva Kendra was wildlife corruption through communication, initiated at the Mysuru Head Post office in management, partnership, capacity building Karnataka on January 25 th , 2017. and assistance in the region. DoT approved merger of Bharti First all-woman Post Office Airtel and Telenor India on - Passport Seva Kendra starts 14th May 2018 operations in - The Department of Telecommunications Phagwara, Punjab permitted Bharti Airtel’s procurement of The Post Office Passport Seva Kendra Telenor India, on May 14 th , 2018. The operated by a whole-woman team started its department has relocated all licences related to working at the Indian unit of Norway-grounded Telenor to Phagwara, Punjab. It was initiated by Union Bharti Airtel. With this sanction, Bharti Airtel Minister Vijay Sampla in the local head Post will buy Telenor India in a no-cash contract UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 41 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

and will take over its outstanding spectrum Indian Army has given green signal to Women payments of Rupees 1650 crores. Officers’ Mountaineering Expedition to Mt. Significance Bhagirathi-II  The Bharti Airtel and Telenor India union will to discover maximum potential of women enhance the 4G-spectrum holdings of Bharti officers in the area of adventure sports. Mt. Airtel group, which has been contending Bhagirathi-II is against Mukesh Ambani operated Reliance Jio located in the Garhwal Himalayas in Gangotri Infocomm. National Park with a height of 6512 m. The  The Telenor acquisition will enhance Bharti peak growths Airtel’s adjusted gross income by right above the Gangotri glacier. approximately Rupees 1400 crores yearly, Key Points which in return, will suggestively withstand its  The excursion focuses at inspiring women in operating revenue. the field of adventure where dauntless courage,  The contract will also strengthen Bharti will-power and strong fortitude of women Airtel’s network capacity. It will increase 43.4 officers is tested. units of 4G-spectrum from Telenor India  It will check their technical judgement across AP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar in mountaineering, mental forte and physical Pradesh-East, Uttar Pradesh-West and Assam. courage.  The company will also increase Telenor’s  The excursion team consists of 9 female operational contracts, tower leases and about officers. 39 million users.  They are preparing to set new world record of  The contract will assist the organisation in performing and practising Yoga at 21000 ft on combining its market leading position with the eve of Yoga Day 2018. more than 330 million subscribers. NALCO signs MoU with Union Telenor India: A Financially Stressed Ministry of Mines for setting Telecom revenue target of FY 2018-19  Telenor India, has been seeking for a long-term explanation for its Indian business, which has on - 14th May 2018 been trailing Rupees four crores per day with a Aluminium major ‘Navratna’ firm National subscriber base that has been decrease Aluminium Company Limited inked a gradually. Memorandum of  Telenor India is presently loaded with almost Understanding on May 14th, 2018, with the Rupees 6000 crores of loss; however, this loss Union Ministry of Mines, setting highest ever is supposed to be borne by Telenor itself. target of generation of Rs 9350 crore revenue Airtel will only capture Telenor India’s from the operations of FY 2018-19. outstanding spectrum payments. The Memorandum of Understanding was inked Indian Army flags of Women between Anil Gopishankar Mukim, Secretary, Officers’ Mountaineering Ministry of Mines and Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD National Aluminium Company Expedition to - Mt. Bhagirathi- Limited in New Delhi. Ii The returns target fixed for financial year UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 42 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

2018-19 is 15% greater than that of 2017. Nikkei Asia Prize since 1996 to regard people Highlights of the MoU in Asia who have done important involvements  The Memorandum of Understanding has in one of the 3 areas consisting of Economic formed an aim of 2.1 million tons for and Business Innovation, Science, Technology generation of Alumina with 100% capacity and Environment and Culture and Community. usage and an ideal Aluminium production Dr Bindeshwar Pathak target of 4.15 lakh tonnes. He had created Sulabh International in 1970. It  It forms an aim of decrease in net carbon is a Non-Governmental Organisation that consumption as part of improvement in works towards promoting human rights, production efficiency. environmental sanitation among various social  It delivers push to commercialisation of fresh services. It has built Sulabh flush toilets research and development products. throughout India, causative to better sanitation,  National Aluminium Company Limited has safety for rural women and freedom from also formed a challenging CAPEX aim of manual labour of removing human waste. Rupees 1100 crores for the year 2018-19.  The company has also formed an aim for  REPLACE campaign assessment of employees through People to eliminate trans-fat in foods Capability Maturity Model and execution of online HR management system. launched by - WHO WHO has released comprehensive plan  The Memorandum of Understanding was designed according to the strategies of the “REPLACE” to eradicate industrially- Department of Public Enterprise and was produced man-made trans-fats from global concluded psot talks with the Inter-Ministerial food supply by 2023. The eradication of trans- Committee and with Union Ministry of Mines. fats is significant to safeguard health and Sulabh International founder saving lives. REPLACE is shortened in 6 strategic actions as- Review, Promote, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak Legislate, Assess, Create Awareness and honoured with - Nikkei Asia Enforce. Prize Key Points The founder of Sulabh International, Dr o The movement provides step-wise guidance in Bindeshwar Pathak was honoured with the 6 strategic actions of “REPLACE” bundle to Nikkei Asia Prize in make sure prompt, comprehensive, and Japan for his involvement to Asia’s constant eradication of industrially development. Dr.Pathak was detailed as Indian manufactured trans-fats from global food social reformer supply. handling 2 of his nation’s biggest challenges o Executing 6 strategic actions will assist attain including poor hygiene and discrimination. He eradication of trans-fat and signify was among 3 major triumph in the global fight against who were deliberated with this award. various cardiovascular diseases. More about Nikkei Asia Prize Six areas of action include: Nikkei Inc. is one of the biggest media corporations in Japan. It has been awarding UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 43 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS o Review of nutritional sources of industrially in the nation. Aadhaar is the 12-digit unique manufactured trans-fats and landscape for identity number and is the world's biggest needed policy alterations. biometric ID system. o Promotereplacement of industrially It was released by the UIDAI, which is a manufactured trans-fats with healthier eatable statutory authority recognized in January 2009 fats and oils. by the Union Legislate or endorse regulatory actions to Government of India. eradicate industrially manufactured trans-fats. The constitutional validity of the biometric ID o Assessand check trans-fats particles in the food system is presently being challenged in the supply and alterations in trans-fats Supreme Court, as people believe that consumption in the population. compulsory linking of Aadhaar number with o Create awareness regarding the bad health their bank accounts, mobile phones effects of trans-fats among policy makers, and government plans is a desecration of their manufacturers, suppliers and the population. fundamental right to privacy. o Enforce amenability with policies and WHO publishes its first regulations. Essential Diagnostics List on - Aadhaar linkage not mandatory 15th May 2018 for getting pension by- Union The World Health Organisation issued its first Government Essential Diagnostics List, on May 15th , 2018, The Union Government has clarified that the which is a catalogue of tests required to detect Aadhaar card is not compulsory for central the most common conditions along with government workers to receive their pension. variety of global important diseases. The news was shared by the Minister of State The list focuses to address people's non-ability for Personnel Jitendra Singh during the 30th to access diagnostic facilities, which results in meeting of the Standing Committee of them failing to get the right treatment. Voluntary Agencies. The Minister informed Importance that Aadhaar card is an extra facility to o The list delivers an indispensable package that permit the utilisation of technology for can form the basis for screening and submission of life certificate without the management of patients. requirement for visiting banks. o According to World Health Organisation, an The minister explained that Aadhaar Card has approximated 46% of adults with Type-2 not been made compulsory for receiving diabetes around the world were undiagnosed, pension for government workers. risking fatal health complications and higher Important Highlights healthcare costs. The declaration is of importance as there were World Health Organisation informed that late reports of few retired workers facing struggle diagnosis of infectious diseases including in getting the pension in the absence of AIDS/HIV and TB upsurges the risk of their Aadhaar card linking with their bank accounts. spread and more difficult to treat. Did you know? Key Features of the list There are approximately 48.41 lakh central o The vital diagnostics list focuses on in-vitro government workers and 61.17 lakh pensioners tests including blood and urine tests. It consists UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 44 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

of 58 tests for finding and analysis of a variety with 19.6 gigawatt and 2017 alone made up 90 of common situations. percent of such fittings with 8.6 gigawatt. o It also consists of 55 tests for the finding, International Day of Families diagnosis and monitoring of priority; diseases celebrated on - 15th May 2018 including for AIDS/HIV, TB, malaria, The International Day of Families is celebrated Hepatitis-B and C, human papillomavirus and every year on 15 th of May worldwide to syphilis. encourage Few of the tests are mainly suitable for primary o awareness of issues concerning to families and health care services, where laboratory facilities expanding knowledge of social, economic and are poorly resourced. demographic progression that hampers families For each class of test, the list requires the type o which are the basic unit of society. The subject of test and proposed usage, format and if for suitable for primary health care with labs. present year is “Families and inclusive The list also delivers associations to World o societies”. Health Organisation guidelines and to pre- It explores role of families and family policies qualified products. in proceeding Sustainable Development Goal India emerges third largest solar 16 in terms of encouraging peaceful and market in the world in inclusive societies for supportable progress. 2017 reported by - Mercom The day was declared by United Nations Communications General Assembly in 1993 by accepting resolution A/RES/47/237 and shows As per to freshly issued report by Mercom the Significance Communications, India developed as 3rd international community connects to families. largest solar market Every year, United Nations secretary-general worldwide in 2017 after China and United develops to States of America. Mercom Communications the specific valid motto attention. India is branch of global clean energy consulting firm Mercom Capital Group. World Telecommunication and Key Highlights Information Society Day o India has established fresh record with 9.6 observed on - 17th May 2018 gigawatt of solar installations in 2017, which The World Telecommunication and was above Information Society Day was celebrated twofold the 4.3 gigawatt mounted in 2016. worldwide on May 17th , 2018. The subject of o In 2017, India’s solar market had grownup at World Telecommunication and Information Compound Annual Growth Rate of about 170 Society for 2018 was “Enabling the positive percent since 2010. The vigorous progress use of Artificial Intelligence for All”. boosted India’s whole solar installed volume to Important Highlights 19.6 gigawatt as of December 2017. o The day focuses to increase awareness of the o As of 2017 ending, mega solar likelihoods that the usage of the Internet and project development calculated for 92 percent other information and communication of the all-time cumulative solar fittings in India technologies can bring to societies and UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 45 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

economies, along with the ways to link the  Basic Biofuels: 1st Generation bioethanol and digital divide. biodiesel. o The 2018 theme will aim on the potential of  Advanced Biofuels: 2nd Generation ethanol, Artificial Intelligence to fast-track the UNs Municipal Solid Waste to drop-in fuels, 3rd Sustainable Development Goals. Generation o The World Telecommunication Day is biofuels, bio-Compressed Natural Gas and observed yearly on May 17th since 1969, many more. marking the establishment of Information and  Expansion scope of raw-material for ethanol Communication Technologies and the inking production permits usage of sugarcane juice, of Information and Communication sugar Technologies in 1865. comprising materials like sweet sorghum, o It was introduced by the Plenipotentiary sugar beet, and starch comprising materials Conference in Malaga-Torremolinos in 1973. like corn, cassava, and spoiled food-grains o The World Summit on the Information Society consisting broken rice, wheat, foul potatoes, called upon the United Nations General non-suitable for human consumption for Assembly in November 2005 to announce May ethanol manufacturing. 17th as World Information Society Day to aim  Usage of excess food grains policy permits the on the significance of ICT and the variety usage of excess food grains for generation of of issues concerned to the information society ethanol for blending with petrol with raised up by World Summit on the Information endorsement of National Biofuel Coordination Society. Committee. This will make sure that farmers receive suitable amount for their produce National Policy on Biofuels, during the excess production phase. 2018 approved by - The Union  Incentives to advanced biofuel, practicality gap funding scheme designated for 2nd Generation Cabinet ethanol Bio refineries of Rupees 5000 crores in The Union Cabinet has passed National Policy six years for delivering special stress to on Biofuels– 2018 in order to encourage advanced biofuels. It also suggests extra tax biofuels in the nation. Biofuels in India are of incentives, developed purchase price as calculated importance as it augers very well compared to 1st Generation biofuels. with constant initiatives of Government  Supply chain mechanisms inspires forming of including Make-in-India, Skill Development supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. It also proposals manufacturing from non-edible oil-seeds, cast- excessive prospect to assimilate with off cooking oil, short gestation crops. determined targets of double-folding of import Synergising efforts already defines the reduction, farmers’ income, employment characters and everyday tasks of all the creation, waste to wealth Creation. anxious Ministries and Government Main features of Policy Departments in concern to biofuels to The policy classifies of biofuels to capable synergise efforts. allowance of suitable financial and fiscal Enhancement of budget incentives under each class. Network for Spectrum Project UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 46 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

for Defence Services approved BSE Ltd became 1st Indian exchange to be by - CCEA selected as Designated Offshore Securities Market by USA The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Securities and Exchange Commission. has sanctioned enhancement of budget by Key Points Rupees 11,330  Designated Offshore Securities Market status crores for Network For Spectrum project. This will permit sale of securities to United States is more than Rupees 13,334 crores already investors through trading venue of BSE sanctioned by Cabinet Committee on without registration of such securities with US Infrastructure in July, 2012. With this, entire Securities and Exchange Commission. budget for the network for Defence services  This will comfort businesses by Unites States has now reached about Rupees 24,664 crores. investors in India and also Network For Spectrum project improve attractiveness of Indian Depository  The Network For Spectrum project focuses at Receipts between United States investors. placing alternative communication network for  The fresh status is also believed to mainly Defence Services. advantage securities issued in United States  Network For Spectrum project will improve private the communication capabilities of Defence placements to institutional investors. Forces.  Moreover, it will deliver liquid resale market In maximum way, it will lead towards which will excused offerings by Bombay Stock improved national operational preparedness. Exchange enlisted organisations, making them  It will also have onward linkages to other more striking to United States investors. concerned industries such as telecom  Designated Offshore Securities Market status equipment engineering and will also issue extra advantages to other telecommunication concerned services. organisations whose securities are operated  The project is being executed by BSNL and both in United States and on Bombay Stock will be accomplished in two years of time Exchange. period.  It will permit certain directors and officers of Did you know? dual organisations to sell again their securities The Union Defence Ministry and Department on Bombay Stock Exchange, without any of Telecommunication, the maximum decision- limitations that may spread under United States making body in Telecom Ministry had inked securities laws. an accordance in 2009-10 to form high-class Bombay Stock Exchange defence network for its communication  Bombay Stock Exchange is Indian stock services. Under it, Department of exchange situated at Dalal Street, Mumbai. Telecommunication had settled to evacuate 25  It was recognized in 1875, making it Asia’s 1st MHz of 3rd Generation spectrum and 20 MHz stock exchange. of 2nd Generation spectrum in phases soley for  It was 1st Indian stock exchange to be defence communication determinations. documented by Government under the First Indian stock exchange to Securities Contracts Regulation Act in 1957. get US SEC’s DOSM recognition - BSE UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 47 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 It has recognized India’s 1st international The conclusion was considered by a special 3- exchange India INX in December 2016 in judge bench consisting Justices A.K.Sikri, GIFT city, Gujarat. S.A.Bobde and Ashok Bhushan. BS Yeddyurappa took oath as  The Top court was hearing a petition filed by Karnataka CM on - 17th May Congress and JD(S) thought-provoking the governor's decision to call Yeddyurappa to 2018 form a new government in the state. B.S.Yeddyurappa, Karnataka’s BJP President,  In the petition, the 2 parties had sought to hold took oath as Karnataka’s new CM on May 17th the swearing-in of Yeddyurappa. , 2018, ending hours on uncertainty. After  The Apex court while hearing the case, single full day of speculation, Karnataka instructed the Centre to place before it 2 Governor Vajubhai Vala asked the the majority communications, sent by BJP to Governor seats winner party BJP, to form the new Vajubhai Vala in which it had betted claim to government in the state and invited the 75 form the government. years old Yeddyurappa to take over the Department of Commerce CM’s position. The Governor has issued the party fifteen days’ time period to demonstrate notifies creation of Directorate their majority in the legislative assembly. General of Trade Remedies on - Key Developments 17th May 2018  The oath was directed to 2-time former CM BS The Department of Commerce released Yeddyurappa by Governor Vajubhai Vala at notification for creation of the DG Trade Raj Bhawan. Remedies in the Union Ministry of Commerce  The Congress and the JD(Secular) joint had and Industry, on May 17th , 2018. The sanction filed a late-night petition in the Supreme Court for the creation of Directorate General Trade on May 16th to stopover the swearing in of Remedies was issued by Union Commerce B.S.Yeddyurappa. and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu after the  However, the apex court declined to order a amendment carried out by the Union stay on the Governor’s decision and stopover Government to the Government of India the oath-taking ceremony in a rare late-night (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 on May hearing. 7th , 2018 in this regard.  This is the 3rd time that B.S.Yeddyurappa has The office of Directorate General of Trade become Karnataka’s CM. His 1st term was Remedies has been formed with an objective to from November 12th, 2007 to November 19 th dispose-off the cases concerned to unfair trade , 2007, while the 2nd was from May 30 th , practices and to deliver a level playing field to 2008-July 31 st , 2011. the local industry.  Yeddyurappa was the single one to take the Directorate General of Trade Remedies sworn, no other ministers were sworn-in by the  The DGTR will be the top National Authority Governor. that will be handling all trade remedial Verdict of Supreme Court -Key Highlights measures including anti-dumping,  The Supreme Court rejected to stay the countervailing duties and precaution measures. swearing-in of BJP’s B.S.Yeddyurappa, on  The Directorate General of Trade Remedies May 16th , 2018. will bring the Directorate General of Anti- UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 48 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

dumping and Allied duties, the Directorate declared themselves as ODF and await General of Safeguards; and the Safeguards certification. functions of DGFT under  The Swachh Survekshan 2018 was planned by  Its name by assimilating them into single the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban national entity. Affairs under the guidance of the Swachh  Directorate General of Trade Remedies will Bharat Mission (Urban) with an objective to have an over-all asset of 112 positions which approximate levels of cleanliness around cities will be drawn from Directorate General of in the nation. Anti-dumping and Allied duties of Department of Commerce and Directorate General of Safeguards of CBEC. RBI tweaks norms for setting  It will deliver trade defence sustenance to local up of - IFSC Banking Units industries and exporters to pact with the trade The RBI has altered norms for invention of remedy investigations introduced against them IFSC Banking Units by banks in International by other nations. Financial Services Centres. In April 2015, Indore, Bhopal & Chandigarh Reserve Bank of India had framed plan for are Top 3 cleanest cities invention of IFSC Banking Units by banks in of India in - Swacch International Financial Services Centres. Surveskshan 2018 Key Points : The alteration makes mandatory for parent Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, bank to deliver and preserve at all times lowest Hardeep Puri published the results of the capital of US $20 million in any overseas Swacch Surveskshan 2018, on May 16th, 2018. currency to its IFSC Banking Units. However, Indore has appeared as the cleanest city again lowest given regulatory capital, including for in India for 2nd year in a continuation. Indore exposures of IFSC Banking Unit, should be and Bhopal have accomplished to retain their preserved on on-going basis at parent level. positions as the top two cleanest cities, as that Moreover, parent bank will be also needed to of previous year. issue Letter of Comfort for extending financial Key highlights assistance, as and when needed, in the form of  Chandigarh was ranked as the 3rd cleanest capital or liquidity support to IFSC Banking city, moving up from Rank 11 in 2017. Units. The norms are applicable to IBUs set up  UP’s Ghaziabad was named as the quickest in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City moving big city of the Swachh Survekshan (GIFT) and in other International Financial 2018, moving to the Position 36 from the Services Centres which may be form in India. earlier 351 in 2017. The alteration was done based on proposals  Jharkhand was announced as the best from shareholders to consider lowest given performing state, trailed by Maharashtra and regulatory capital at parent level rather than at Chhattisgarh. IBU level. The government has formed an  In terms of sanitation coverage, approximately International Financial Services Centres in 2133 cities and urban local bodies have been Gujarat namely Gujarat International Finance certified as ODF and 2679 cities have self- Tec-City in Gandhinagar. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 49 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

NASA Satellites reveal major groundwater. shifts in - Global freshwater In Africa’s western Zambezi basin and In a 1st, researchers have found that the Earth’s Okavango Delta, the team also acknowledged wet land areas are turning wetter and dry areas large inclinations in terrestrial freshwater are turning drier due to different reasons, storage that do not appear to be straight related including human water management, climate to human activities, but the result of the natural change and natural cycles. The study was cycles of high/low rainfall. issued on May 16th, 2018 in the journal

Nature. In Xinjiang province in north-western China, a Key Findings mixture of natural and human pressures

resulted into compound scenarios in the Freshwater is found in lakes, rivers, soil, snow Xinjiang province of north-western China. and ice. On land, freshwater is one of the During the 1st decades of this century, water necessary Earth's resources for drinking water deteriorations occurred in Xinjiang, which and agriculture purposes. vanished 5.5 gigatons of terrestrial water

storage yearly. Though the water loss in some regions like the melting ice-sheets and alpine glaciers is Who has been appointed as evidently driven by global warming, however, Chairman of Lalit Kala it may take extra time and information to Akademi ?- Uttam Pacharne determine the driving forces behind other Uttam Pacharne was designated as the regular patterns of fresh-water alterations. Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi, on May Freshwater Trends witnessed in various 17th, 2018. His designation was sanctioned by regions the President Ram Nath Kovind. Uttam Pacharne is a renowned artist and sculptor. In California, pumping groundwater for agricultural purposes is considered as a Uttam Pacharne succeeds M.L.Srivastava, significant contributor to depletion in Joint Secretary (Akademies), Union Ministry freshwater levels, however, one should not of Culture, who was nominated as Protem forget that groundwater levels are also delicate Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi in March to cycles of determined drought or rainy 2018, due to the awaiting nomination of a conditions. regular Chairman. This was the reason of the noteworthy groundwater depletion seen in California’s Uttam Pacharne will join office for a 3 years Central Valley from 2007-2015. A gigaton of term from the date of assuming the charge of water would fill 400,000 Olympic swimming the office. pools. More about Uttam Pacharne  Presently, Uttam Pacharne is a Member of Freshwater levels decrease was also seen in Advisory Committee of Kala Academy, Goa Saudi Arabia, that indicating the agricultural and a Member of the Advisory Committee at compressions. From 2002-2016, the region P.L. Deshpande State Lalit Kala Academy. vanished 6.1 gigatons annually of stored UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 50 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 He is also working as the Director of Janseva The RBI has altered norms for invention of Sahakari Bank Borivali. IFSC Banking Units by banks in International  He received the National Lalit Kala Award in Financial 1985, Maharashtra Gaurav Puraska in 1985, Services Centres. In April 2015, Reserve Bank Junior National Award in 1986 and Jeevan of India had framed plan for invention of IFSC Gaurav Puraskar in 2017 from Prafulla Banking Dahanukar Foundation. Units by banks in International Financial Gujarat Government to launch Services Centres. free treatment scheme for - Key Points  The alteration makes mandatory for parent Road accident victims bank to deliver and preserve at all times lowest The state government of Gujarat would be capital of US $20 million in any overseas releasing free treatment plan for the road currency to its IFSC Banking Units. accident victims on May 18th, 2018. The  However, lowest given regulatory declaration for the same was done past week capital, including for exposures of IFSC by Gujarat’s Deputy CM Nitin Patel, who also Banking Unit, should be preserved on on-going handles Health selection. basis at parent level. Key Provisions  Moreover, parent bank will be also needed to  Under the plan, the state government will issue Letter of Comfort for extending financial tolerate medical expenses of about 50,000 assistance, as and when needed, in the form of Rupees for each victim of a road accident in capital or liquidity support to IFSC Banking the state for the 1st 48 hours. Units.  The government would compensate the amount  The norms are applicable to IBUs set up in to the hospital concerned upon submission of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) bills. and in other International Financial Services  The free treatment facility will contain wounds Centres which may be form in India. dressings, X-ray, blood transfusion, ICU  The alteration was done based on proposals treatments, MRI and all other treatment from shareholders to consider lowest given presented in the hospital. regulatory  In an instance where a hospital refers the capital at parent level rather than at IBU level. patient to another hospital within 2 days, both  The government has formed an International the hospitals will be entitled for the Financial Services Centres in Gujarat namely compensation of their joint bills of Rupees Gujarat International Finance Tec-City in 50,000. Gandhinagar.  The initiative is focused at issuing in-timely NASA Satellites revealed major and better treatment, that in-turn would be minimising the loss of life due to road shifts in global freshwater on - accidents. 16th May 2018 Norms for setting up of In a 1st, researchers have found that the Earth’s IFSC Banking Units tweaked wet land areas are turning wetter and dry areas are turning drier due to different reasons, by - RBI including human water management, climate UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 51 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

change and natural cycles. The study was resulted into compound scenarios in the issued on May 16th , 2018 in the journal Xinjiang province of north-western China. Nature.  During the 1st decades of this century, Key Findings water deteriorations occurred in Xinjiang,  Freshwater is found in lakes, rivers, soil, snow which vanished 5.5 gigatons of terrestrial water and ice. On land, freshwater is one of the storage yearly. necessary Earth's resources for drinking water Uttam Pacharne appointed as and agriculture purposes. Chairman of Lalit Kala  Though the water loss in some regions like the melting ice-sheets and alpine glaciers is Akademi on - 17th May 2018 evidently driven by global warming, however, Uttam Pacharne was designated as the regular it may take extra time and information to Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi, on May determine the driving forces behind 17th , 2018. His designation was sanctioned by other patterns of fresh-water alterations. the President Ram Nath Kovind. Uttam Pacharne is a renowned artist and sculptor. Freshwater Trends witnessed in various Uttam Pacharne succeeds M.L.Srivastava, regions Joint Secretary (Akademies), Union Ministry  In California, pumping groundwater for agricultural purposes is considered as a of Culture, who was nominated as Protem significant contributor to depletion in Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi in March freshwater levels, however, one should not 2018, due to the awaiting nomination of forget that groundwater levels are also delicate a regular Chairman. to cycles of determined drought or rainy Uttam Pacharne will join office for a 3 years conditions. term from the date of assuming the charge of the office.  This was the reason of the noteworthy groundwater depletion seen in California’s Uttam Pacharne Presently, Uttam Pacharne is a Central Valley from 2007-2015. A gigaton of Member of Advisory Committee of Kala water would fill 400,000 Olympic swimming Academy, Goa and a Member of the Advisory pools. Committee at P.L. Deshpande State Lalit Kala Academy.  Freshwater levels decrease was also seen in Saudi Arabia, that indicating the agricultural He is also working as the Director of Janseva compressions. From 2002-2016, the region Sahakari Bank Borivali. vanished 6.1 gigatons annually of stored He received the National Lalit Kala Award in groundwater. 1985, Maharashtra Gaurav Puraska in 1985, Junior National Award in 1986 and Jeevan  In Africa’s western Zambezi basin and Okavango Delta, the team also acknowledged Gaurav Puraskar in 2017 from Prafulla large inclinations in terrestrial freshwater Dahanukar Foundation. storage that do not appear to be straight related Gujarat Government to launch to human activities, but the result of the natural free treatment scheme for road cycles of high/low rainfall. accident victims on - 18th May  In Xinjiang province in north-western China, a 2018 mixture of natural and human pressures The state government of Gujarat would be releasing free treatment plan for the road UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 52 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

accident victims on May 18th , 2018. The The Indian Supreme Court sanctioned the declaration for the same was done past week Centre's draft Cauvery Management Scheme, by Gujarat’s Deputy CM Nitin Patel, who also on May 18th , 2018 for the even distribution of handles Health selection. Cauvery river water among the southern states. Key Provisions The ruling was approved by a 3-judge bench  Under the plan, the state government will consisting Chief Justice Dipak Misra and tolerate medical expenses of about 50,000 Justices A.M.Khanwilkar and Rupees for each victim of a road accident in D.Y.Chandrachud. The bench refused the the state for the 1st 48 hours. recommendations of Karnataka and Kerala  The government would compensate the amount governments over the scheme, terming them as to the hospital concerned upon submission of devoid of merits. The court also refused Tamil bills. Nadu's plea seeking initiation of disapproval  The free treatment facility will contain wounds against the Centre for non-finalisation of dressings, X-ray, blood transfusion, ICU Cauvery scheme. treatments, MRI and all other treatment Supreme Court’s February 16 verdict presented in the hospital.  The Supreme Court of India on February 16 th  In an instance where a hospital refers the , 2018 decreased Tamil Nadu’s share of patient to another hospital within 2 days, both Cauvery water by 14.75 tmcft water yearly, the hospitals will be entitled for the relaxing the same to Karnataka. compensation of their joint bills of Rupees  The judgement was made by a bench 50,000. consisting Chief Justice Dipak Misra and  The initiative is focused at issuing in-timely Justices Amitava Roy and A.M. Khanwilkar. and better treatment, that in-turn would be  The court informed that the provision to minimising the loss of life due to road upsurge the water share of Karnataka was accidents. taken due to the ten tmcft groundwater and Plan Benefit 4.75 tmcft drinking water needed for  Apart from covering the people of Gujarat, the Bengaluru inhabitants. plan would cover people related to other states  With the decision, while Tamil Nadu’s share and also inhabitants from other nations. was reduced to 177 tmcft, Karnataka’s share  As per to a Government Resolution released by was upsurged to 284.75 tmcft and Kerala’s the state’s Health and Family Welfare whereas, the Puducherry’s share remained the department on May 17th , even individuals same. addressing from other states or other nations  The court, offered recompense by permitting will receive free treatment, if they suffer with Tamil Nadu to draw an extra ten tmcft ground- a road accident and then admitted to a water from a sum of twenty tmcft beneath the government or a private hospital in Gujarat, Cauvery basin. irrespective of their income.  The court in its decision had also instructed the Centre to frame the Cauvery management SC approves Centre’s draft scheme, including the setting up of the Cauvery management scheme Cauvery Management Board, for the issue of the River’s water from Karnataka to Tamil on - 18th May 2018 Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 53 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

Gina Haspel confirmed as first and analysing national security data from female director of CIA on - 17th worldwide, mainly through the utilisation May 2018 of human intelligence.  The Central Intelligence Agency has no law The United States Senate assured Gina Haspel enforcement function, Unlike the domestic as the 1st female director of Central security service FBI and is chiefly focused on Intelligence Agency- CIA on May 17th , foreign intelligence assembly, with only 2018. Gina Haspel’s appointment was assured limited domestic intelligence gathering. in a 54-45 vote, succeeding a difficult  The Central Intelligence Agency is also the nomination procedure that reopened an only agency approved by the law to carry out emotional discussion about brutal interrogation and oversee covert action at the behest of the techniques in one of the darkest chapters of President. Central Intelligence Agency’s history. The  The Central Intelligence Agency has gradually vote divided both parties, with 6 Democrats expanded its role in the present scenario, linking most Republicans in the Central including conducting covert revolutionary Intelligence Agency veteran’s support. operations. More about Gina Haspel  Gina Haspel joined the Central Intelligence Russia unveils world’s first Agency in January 1985 as a reports officer. She apprehended various undercover foreign floating nuclear power plant - posts, most of them as station chief. Akademik Lomonosov  Previously, she was working as Deputy Russia revealed world’s 1st floating nuclear Director under former Central Intelligence power plant at port city of Murmansk. It will Agency Director Mike Pompeo in the starting be equipped with nuclear fuel at Murmansk of Trump’s administration. and will be dragged to port of Pevek in  Gina Haspel became Acting Director autonomous Chukotka area in Russia’s far succeeding Pompeo's resignation to become northeast in Arctic Circle area. US Secretary of State and was appointed by More about Akademik Lomonosov President Donald Trump to turn out to be the  Akademik Lomonosov was built by Russian official Central Intelligence Agency Director. state nuclear power corporation Rosatom. It  On May 17th , 2018, she was assured as the has length of 144m and width of 30m. It has Central Intelligence Agency Director, making supplanting of 21,500 tonnes and crew of 69 her the 1st woman to grab the post on a full- persons. time basis.  For power generation, it has been loaded with  Gian Haspel was the 2nd female Deputy 2 modified KLT-40 naval propulsion nuclear Director in history. From 2004-2005, Haspel reactors, together providing about 70 was Deputy Chief of the National Resources megawatts of electricity and 300 megawatts of Division. heat. It is termed after Russian Academician More about CIA Mikhail Lomonosov.  Central Intelligence Agency is a foreign  It has modern security systems and is measured intelligence service of the US government, as one of safest nuclear installations in the which is tasked with collecting, processing, world. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 54 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

However, environmentalists have named it as  Centre for Energy Regulation aims on ‘nuclear Titanic’. It will be mainly utilised to requirement for India specific forward seeking power oil rigs in remote areas of Artic region research in where Russia is assertive to drill for oil and teamwork of regulatory institutions and gas. relevant shareholders to deliver solutions to Significance matters including growth of Indian economy,  The low-capacity, floating nuclear power rising energy needs, energy efficiency, security station can generate sufficient electricity to and electricity access. power town of 200,000 inhabitants residing in  It inspires interaction between regulatory and Russia’s far-flung northernmost Artic region. academic institutions. It focuses for suggestion  Here large percentage of electricity is not research in developing areas of power sector needed’ and building of conventional power regulation and policy. plant grounded on coal, gas and diesel  Its core research segments consist of is difficult and expensive. regulatory and policy alterations in power and  It can save about 50,000 tonnes of CO2 energy segment, energy finance, energy sector emissions every year. modelling and operative planning in energy  The project is part of Russia’s greater goals to markets and many more. secure rich sums of oil and gas in North Pole PM Narendra Modi inaugurates region in Artic. Zojila tunnel project in Leh on -  Due to climate changes, fresh shipping-routes are opening in Russia’s north and as a result, it 19th May 2018 is solidifying its military position in the region. PM Narendra Modi revealed a plaque to spot India’s first advisory centre for the commencement of work on the Zojila Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Leh district energy in - IIT Kanpur on May 19th , 2018. This project, value Rupees IIT-Kanpur has formed India’s 1st Centre for 6,809 crores, will be India’s longest and Asia’s Energy Regulation with the assistance of longest and strategic two-directional tunnel, Government of which will deliver all-weather connections UK. The 1st of its kind centre in India goals at among J&K’s Srinagar, Kargil and Leh delivering independent advisory on policy and districts. It will be completed within 5 regulatory years. Talking on the occasion, the PM Modi issues in the power and energy sector. said that he has asked the related Ministry to Centre for Energy Regulation find out the ways to decrease the time for the  It is initiative of Department of Industrial and completion of the project. Management Engineering of Indian Institute of Key Features of Zojila Tunnel Technology-Kanpur to improve regulatory  The tunnel goals to deliver safe, quick and research and networking in Indian power cost-effective connectivity. It will decrease the segment. time of travelling among Srinagar and Leh to  Centre for Energy Regulation and identified fifteen minutes from the present 3.5 hours. activities under it are sponsored by Department  It will deliver all-weather connectivity to the for International Development, Government of area. The project has strategic and socio- UK. economic significance and shall be a tool for UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 55 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

the development of the economically backward initiative that has sparked fears of global trade districts in J&K. war. He had inked 2 announcements that  It will be the longest two-directional tunnel in imposed 25 per cent duties on steel and 10 per Asia and the edifice of the tunnel will take cent duty on aluminium imported from all about 5 years due to the difficult topography, nations excluding Canada and Mexico. India because in few areas the temperature drops to - had sought exclusions from the heavy duties. 45 degree Celsius.  United States conclusion had not only  The project goals at building 14.15 kilometres impacted India’s export of these goods but also long bi-lane two-directional single tube tunnel affected global business. with a parallel 14.2 kilometres long tunnel  India’s exports of steel and aluminium without tactics between Baltal and Minamarg products to United States was about US $1.5 in the state. billion per year. India and United States are  It is being executed by the Ministry of Road already complicated in disputes at World Trade Transport and Highways through the National Organisation, which is a global trade Highways and Infrastructure Development organisation. Corporation Limited.  The disagreements are in the areas of poultry, India drags US to WTO over - solar and steel. United States freshly had Imposition of duties expressed disagreements against India on export incentives measures damage its workers India has pushed US to the Dispute Settlement by creating an uneven playing field. Mechanism of World Trade Organisation over obligation Home Minister to commission of import duties on steel and aluminium. India anti-Naxal Bastariya battalion informed that provision will of obligaton of on - 21st May 2018 import duties Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will impact its exports of steel and aluminium commission into service the Bastariya battalion products to United States and is not in of the CRPF, in Raipur, on May 21st , compliance with global 2018. The anti-Naxal battalion, formed for the trade guidelines. 1st-time with above 534 tribal youth from Key Points Chhattisgarh, has 33% depiction of women  India has sought consultations with United combatants with 189 women constables. The States as 1st step of disagreement settlement Passing out Parade will be organised at a process under the World Trade Organisation’s training centre at Ambikapur, a city in Surguja dispute settlement process. district of  If the 2 countries are not capable to Chhattisgarh. reach mutually settled solution through Key Highlights consultation, India may appeal for World  The localised battalion of the young fighters Trade Organisation dispute settlement panel to will be instantly deployed for anti-Naxal review the issue. actions in few of the wickedest Naxal affected Did you know? areas including Sukma, Dantewada and  In March 2018, United States President Donald Bijapur. Trump had levied heavy import duties on imported steel and aluminium products, an UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 56 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 The battalion was known as Bastariya, as its Japan with $19,522 billion at the 3rd position. associates were recruited from Sukma, Total wealth Dantewada, Narayanpur and Bijapur districts  Total wealth denotes the private wealth of non-divided Bastar region in southern detained by all the individuals living in each Chhattisgarh, bordering AP, Odisha and nation. Telangana.  It contains all their assets consisting property,  The fresh recruits were proficient for cash, equities and trade interests without any approximate 44 weeks in forest warfare, liabilities. weapons firing, map reading, police laws and  The figures, however, do not contain unarmed combat. government funds.  The troops will be issued their ranks of  Here, the mega nations have a noteworthy constables and engage in arms against the benefit due to higher populations. Naxals, like steady security forces staffs.  As per to the report, the features that will ease  Rajnath Singh would be bestowing the best in wealth creation in India are large number of performers of the fresh unit after they businesspersons, a good educational system, bestowed him with a guard of honour and a healthy outlook for IT, business procedures military parade. outsourcing, estate and healthcare which will Deployment outcome in a 200% rise in 10 years wealth The final strength of the Bastariya battalion growth estimate. will be 743 personnel, as it will have some of  Wealth Forecast As per to the report, China is the young and regular combat personnel apart supposed to witness an increase in entire from officers to make sure a blend of both wealth to $69,449 billion by 2027, while the young troops and experience. These new wealth of the United States is believed to personnel will be positioned as small hit teams, increase to approximate $75,101 billion during along with regular Central Reserve Police the same time. Force and CoBRA battalions, for procedures  Australia is also believed to witness an and other duties in south Bastar. important rise in its entire wealth, which will assist it overtake Canada and advantage a lot of India ranked 6th wealthiest ground on Germany and the United Kingdom. country by- The AfrAsia Bank  India, on the flip side, is suppoded to overtake Germany and the United Kingdom to become Global Wealth Migration the fourth largest wealth market around the Review world by 2027. The AfrAsia Bank Global Wealth Migration  Worldwide, the total wealth is supposed to Review positioned India as the sixth wealthiest increase by 50% over the coming decade, nation in the world with an entire wealth of reaching $321 trillion by 2027. The fastest $8,230 billion, while the USA was positioned growing wealth markets are supposed to be Sri as the wealthiest with an entire wealth Lanka, India, Vietnam, China and Mauritius. of $62,584 billion. Venezuelan President Nicolas The evaluation placed China with an entire Maduro re-elected on - 20th wealth of $24,803 billion in the 2nd place and May 2018 UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 57 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro secured  Oil sales are 50 percent of Venezuela’s gross another 6 years of term on May 20th, 2018 in domestic product and 95 per cent of its export an election that has been known as a sham by income, however, in spite the biggest oil the opposition and other nations including the reserves in the world, the country has been USA. hardly making any money. As per to the electoral authorities, Maduro Nipah Virus (NiV) Infection secured 68% of the votes cast, while his sensed in - Kerala contiguous contender Henri Falcon won 21% Kerala was on high alert as rarest and deadly of the votes and Javier Bertucci won 11% of Nipah Virus- NiV infection which was sensed the votes. for the 1st The vote came amongst opposition calls for a time in the state. Its remains were found in boycott. As per to the election commission, the blood and body fluid samples of 2 infected concluding turnout was predictable to be 48%. persons who died When Maduro had 1st won office in 2013, of viral fever in Kerala’s coastal Kozhikode there was an 80% voter turnout. area. It was assured by laboratory results from A win despite massive opposition! National  Maduro managed to hold a victory from the Institute of Virology, Pune. largely controversial elections, in spite there More about Nipah Virus (NiV) Infection being a massive wave of dissent against him  Nipah virus infection is zoonotic disease that among the public. reasons severe disease in both animals and  The president’s victory was closed with the humans. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae Family, maximum empty polling stations around the are natural host of the virus. nation. However, the voting booths in  It was 1st identified during outbreak of disease government strangleholds remained open even in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998. hours after their programmed closing time.  Transmission of the virus blowout fast and is  While Maduro’s administration tried to get mostly fatal. Infected bats shelter virus in their people to come to vote, the opposition was excretion and secretion. The virus is largely out of the race, as participating in the communicated via direct contact with infected elections meant issuing authentication to the bats, pigs. fraud elections.  However, Human to Human transmission from  Madura had 1st called for the snap elections in another NiV-infected person is also reported. January 2018 and the movement was opposed  Symptoms of NiV infection can include acute by the opposition given that it came at a time respiratory syndrome, breathing trouble, brain when many of his main rivals were jailed and inflammation, fever, headache, drowsiness and exiled. delirium. Patient can also suffer enter coma  The Venezuelan Diaspora organised anti- within 48 hours. government rallies in dozens of cities  The mortality rate of patients infected with it is worldwide on May 20 th . 70 per cent. It is enable of causing diseases  The disaster in the Latin American nation in domestic animals too. stems from wide-scale corruption and severe  Treatment include no vaccine for disease either misconduct. for humans or animals. The main treatment for those infected is concentrated supportive care UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 58 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

and supportive medicines. In disease infected act combinedly at Copenhagen climate areas, fruits strewn on the ground should not be summit, including conceivable joint walk-out eaten. if their common least position was not fulfilled 26th BASIC Ministerial by the developed countries during climate Meeting of Environment debates. Ministers held in - Durban Which satellite China The 26th BASIC Ministerial Meeting of launched to explore dark side Environment Ministers was organised in of Moon ? - Queqiao satellite Durban, South Africa. The grouping is a bloc China released relay satellite known as of 4 nations including Brazil, South Africa, Queqiao to start communication link between India and China. It was witnessed by from earth and its BASIC nations and Michal Kurtyka of Poland, planned Chang’e-4 lunar probe that will next president of Conference of Parties under discover the dark side of moon. It was released UNs Framework Convention on Climate as part of Change. India was represented by Union Chinese Lunar Exploration Program onboard Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan. of Long March-4C rocket from Xichang Key Results launch centre.  BASIC nations decided to safeguard integrity Queqiao (Magpie Bridge) of historic 2015 Paris Agreement, including  Queqiao that mean bridge of magpies, satellite values of will work as communications relay for future common but differentiated tasks and equity. Chang’e-4 rover that will discover in South  They organised that world is at critical stage in Pole-Aitken Basin in moon’s far side. fighting against climate change and answer of  It will be located in Earth-moon Lagrange developed countries to handle the inadequate point L2, which is a gravitationally steady issue. point situated 64,000 kms beyond moon far  They repeated that developed countries should side. take lead in justification and providing means  It will be world’s 1st communication satellite of operating in this position. It will benefit China implementation to developing nations. to realise its goal of being 1st nation to send  They should similarly give importance to probe to soft-land on and rove far side of the determination of developing nations by moon. providing them reinforced and continued, Need for relay Satellite predictable and adequate finance, technology  Moon is tidally protected to Earth, meaning it and capacity full support. always shows same side to Earth.  Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan  Consequently, communicate connection is recapped his appeal for combined efforts to essential to join with spacecraft on far side, form societal movement in fighting against which will then have to send their signals climate alteration through Green Good gasses. through moon’s rock-strewn majority. More about BASIC Chang’e program BASIC nations are bloc of 4 large newly  Chinese Lunar Exploration Program also industrialized countries and are dedicated to known as Chang’e program after Chinese UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 59 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

moon goddess  The tourist can travel with printout of this Chang’e, is ongoing series of robotic Moon authorisation for thirty days. missions by considered by China National  It also covers business and medical classes. Space International Day for Administration. Biological Diversity celebrated  The program includes lunar orbiters, landers, travellers and sample return spacecraft, on - 22nd May 2018 launched using Long March rockets. While there is a rising gratitude that biological diversity is a worldwide asset of tremendous  The Chang’e 3 mission is in process to put lander and traveller on moons near side. China value to current and future generations, the is also scheduling to laugh Chang’e 5 T1, that number of species is being knowingly will be a mission to send sample-return decreased by certain human actions. container around moon and back to Earth to The “Convention on Biological Diversity” is validate technology required to survive fiery the international legal instrument for "the atmospheric entry. conservation of biological diversity. The Government earns Rs.1,400 supportable usage of its mechanisms and the fair and equitable sharing of the welfares crore in - e-Visa Scheme arising out of the use of genetic As per to Ministry of Home Affairs, resources" that has been approved by Government has received Rupees 1,400 crores 196 countries. as revenue from Given the principle of public education and highly successful e-Visa scheme since its awareness for the implementation of the initiation in 2014. 19 lakh tourists utilised e- Convention, the General Assembly announced Visa scheme in 22 May, as the International Day for Biological 2017 and charges are divided into 4 slabs of Diversity by its resolution on 20 th zero, $25, $50 and $75, which were fixed on December 2000. mutuality and Theme for 2018: Celebrating 25 Years of depending on nationality. Action for Biodiversity More about e-Visa scheme  2018 marks the 25th anniversary of the  e-Visa scheme delivers pre-authorization of entrance into force of the Convention on visa to immigrants prior to travel to India. The Biological Diversity. system is  Since inflowing into force, the Convention has implemented by immigrant’s division of been applied through the vision and leadership Ministry of Home Affairs to upgrade exhibited by nations, NGO’s and inter- efficiency and transparency of numerous governmental organizations, Indian residents, services being delivered to overseas nationals. local communities and the scientific  The provision is now available for inhabitants community. of 163 nations for entry into India via 25  The results are considerable. The progress of international airports and 5 sea-ports. scientific guidance for the conservation and  Under the plan, an applicant, while give in to sustainable usage of biodiversity for biomes online application, obtains an e-mail worldwide, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to authorising him/her to travel to India after Genetic Resources and the Fair-minded sanction. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 60 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

and Reasonable Sharing of Aids Arising from UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme was their Application and the creation and initiated in October 2016 to advance the execution of national biodiversity policies and regional aviation marketplace. action plans. It is dynamic component of the National Civil  Afterward adopting theStrategic Plan for Aviation Policy, 2016. Biodiversity 2011-2020, Parties have It objectives are to make aviation inexpensive done noteworthy headway in the by providing connectivity to non-served and accomplishment of a number of itsAichi less-served airports of nation via revival of Biodiversity Targets. present airports so that inhabitants in regional  The Strategic Plan is including a shared vision, towns can enjoy econimic flights. a mission, planned goals and 20 determined yet Did you know ? achievable goals, the Aichi Targets. Arunachal Pradesh already has 120 heliports  The scheme works as an elastic framework for and 10 Advanced-landing parklands, which are the formation of national and regional goals constructed for military and civil procedures. and it encourages the coherent and effective Under UDAN scheme, 8 locations in border employment of the aims of the Convention on state have been carefully chosen by bidders. Biological Diversity. Out of which Pasighat and Tezu have been identified for fixed wing. Ziro, Daporijo,  First commercial flight of Itanagar, Tuting, Wallong and Yingkiong have Arunachal Pradesh lands at been identified for helicopter services. Pasighat under scheme - UDAN UAE launches 10-year The 1st 42-seater ATR aircraft of the Alliance residency visa programme for Airlines commercial flight of Arunachal exceptional talents on - 20th Pradesh under UDAN scheme landed at May 2018 Pasighat airport in East Siang district. This The UAE adopted a new system of entry visas, historic moment sets border state on the on May 20th , 2018, according to which it aviation map of the nation. would be dispensing long-term residency visas Key Points for up to ten years to international investors o Alliance Air, will manage flight services on and ‘exceptional talents’ including Kolkata-Guwahati-Pasighat pathway three- professionals and students. The declaration times in a week, including Tuesday, Thursday was announced by the country’s Cabinet and Saturday. during a high-level meeting led by Sheikh o Pasighat airport is on advance landing ground, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice meant to support operations of small airplanes President and Prime Minister of the United and few military aeroplanes. Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai. o This commercial flight connectivity initiates Talking on the occasion, the PM of United fresh vistas of economic development in the Arab Emirates stated that the Gulf Nation will district and also deliver abundant openings for continue a global incubator for excellent tourism industry of the state. talents and an enduring destination for More about UDAN Scheme international investors. United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Economy UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 61 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

has been instructed to implement the resolution mega list, which already retains 2.3 million in synchronization with the related parties and copyrights, including the Beatles directory. follow up on its progresses and present a This achievement is Sony's 1st major deal detailed investigation in the 3rd quarter of under its new-fangled CEO Kenichiro 2018. Yoshida. Previously this month, Sony’s music Key Highlights : also inked US 185 million dollars deal to o The fresh system will expand the chances of purchase shares in the Peanuts company. fascinating investors and competencies, More about EMI Music Publishing cumulative the nation and economic o EMI Music Publishing is an international competitiveness worldwide. music publishing company HQ in London. It is o The system will permit 10 years residency maintained by a consortium headed by visas for experts in medical, scientific, research Sony/ATV Music Publishing. and technical fields, as well as for all o EMI is the 2 nd largest music producing researchers and innovators. corporation by revenue and owns copyrights of o While 5 years residency visas will be issued to more than two million music pieces. the students studying in the United Arab o Present song-writers under EMI music Emirates, the ten years visas will be issued to corporation include Kanye West, Alicia Keys, brilliant students. Drake, Pink, Fetty Wap and Hozier. o UAE will also permit overseas corporations to AB de Villiers announces own 100% of their business in the country. retirement from all forms of The new system is believed to provide an enormous boost to the Indians and Indian cricket on - 23rd May 2018 trades in United Star South Africa batsman AB de Villiers announced his decision to retire from all forms o Arab Emirates, as with a population of 2.8 million individuals, Indians are the chief of cricket with immediate effect on May 23rd, emigrant community in the United Arab 2018. Emirates. He made the announcement through a video Sony to buy EMI Music message, where he said that he had "run out of gas." The 34-year-old batsman said that the Publishing in USD 1.9 billion time was right for him to hang up his boots, deal on - May 22nd, 2018 and to bring a close to his exceptional 14-year Sony Corporation proclaimed to obtain EMI career. Music Publishing which is one of the world's Important Highlights largest music producing companies, in a US o He has played a total of 228 ODIs, 114 Test 1.9 billion dollars deal, on May 22nd , 2018. matches and 78 T20 Internationals. EMI is the 2 nd largest music producing o He signed off his career with a staggering company by income and grips the rights to 2.1 20,014 international runs that too include 8765 million pieces of music together with classics in Tests, 9577 in ODIs and 1672 in T20Is and a by the likes of Queen, Sam Smith, Pharrell batting average of more than 50 in both Tests Williams and Drake. The deal enhances a and ODIs. catalogue of above two million songs to Sony's o He would, however, continue to be available for the Titans in domestic cricket. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 62 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS o He is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen the reason to be lack of required numbers in of all the time. order to form a majority government. o AB de Villiers holds the record for most Test innings that too without registering a duck .  Measures to simplify Defence o AB de Villiers was also a three-time ICC ODI Procurement Procedure player of the year, who won the award in 2010, 2014 and 2015. approved by - DAC The Defence Acquisition Council led by Union Did you know? He played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has in the Indian Premier League. sanctioned HD Kumaraswamy sworn in as numerous measures to simplify Defence Procurement Procedure. Defence Acquisition Karnataka Chief Minister on - Council is Defence Ministry’s highest 23rd May 2018 decision-forming body on capital procurement JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy was sworn in of Indian Armed Forces. as the 18th Chief Minister of Karnataka on Key Points May 23rd, 2018. The ceremony of swearing o These measures will be united in Defence ceremony was conducted at 4.30 pm on the Procurement Procedure-16, which is the steps of the state secretariat, Vidhana manual governing defence procurement Soudha. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala procedure. administered the oath of office and secrecy. o The alterations consist devolution of powers Important Highlights within Ministry of Defence and Service HQs, o Karnataka Congress leader G Parameshwara removal of repetitive procedures, simultaneous has been sworn in as the Deputy Chief operating acquisition procedure in its place of Minister of Karnataka. sequential stage clearance, bring into line of o Among Karnataka’s 34 ministries, 22 would be numerous documents with revised financial going to the Congress and the remaining 12, guidelines, between others. including the post of the Chief Minister, will o These modifications form part of continuing be held by the JD(S). Business Process Re-engineering in Defence o However,expected to be held on May 25th, Capital 2018, will decide the seats. procurements of armed forces. o The post of the Speaker and the Deputy o It is in line with persistence of Defence Speaker would also be evenly divided. While Ministry’s efforts to modernize Defence the Speaker will be from the Congress, his Procurement Procedures and decrease deputy will be from the Janata Dal Secular. timelines to make sure with in time supply of o The JDS leader has sworn in as the Karnataka equipment to Armed Forces. Chief Minister for the second time in 12 years. o These actions will also obviate excessive Did you know? technical delays and accelerate activities o Kumaraswamy was invited by Vajubhai Vala besides reduction procurement timelines. to form government in Karnataka after B S Did you know? Yeddyurappa stepped down from the post on The Union Government till date has cleared May 19th 2018 just before the floor test, citing applications worth Rupees four lakh crore of UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 63 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

military procurement concerning close to 135 o It had recorded total of 780 downloads and applications as part of its efforts to modernise criticisms were received from subscribers. armed forces. But much of these applications Accordingly, are yet to be executed due to practical delays administrators concerned in all the cases had hindering speed of modernisation of armed taken actions. forces. Election Commission of India App to help voters to share o Election Commission of India is permanent malpractice proof to be and self-governing constitutional body recognized directly by Constitution of India to launched by - Election make sure fair elections in the nation. It is Commission multi-fellow body and at present has 3 Election Commission of India is releasing members consisting Chief Election multi-lingual mobile app known as Model Commissioner chosen by President of India. Code of Conduct US diplomats in response to Violation Reporting Application ahead of the Trump’s sanctions expelled by 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The application focuses at - Venezuela strengthening people around the nation to share The freshly re-designated President of evidence of mismanagement by political Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro well-ordered the parties, their dismissal of 2 top United States ambassadors contenders and activists directly with Election in Caracas in retaliation to the new round of Commission of India. United States authorizations forced Key Points over Venezuela’s widely-convicted elections o Through this mobile application, Election on May 22 nd , 2018. Commission of India aims to cheer larger Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earned public contribution in checking immoral another 6 years of term on May 20 th in an practices in elections and make sure fair election that was known as a sham by the election procedure. opposition and other nations including the o The application will be released around the USA. nation as part of steps taken by Election United States President Donald Trump replied Commission of India to avoid abuse of money to the election outcomes on May 21 st by and muscle power. releasing an executive order restricting o The application permits sharing of photos and Venezuela’s ability to sell state assets. short audio/video clips linked to electoral Key Highlights malpractices from spot itself. It also records o Venezuelan President Maduro replied to location of described incidents and the Trump’s approvals by ordering United States bureaucrats concerned will proximately obtain charge d’affaires Todd Robinson to vacant the the alerts. This will make sure an effective cuntry after condemning him of being involved response. in a military collusion. o The app was available for 1st time in o Maduro also enforced another senior diplomat, Bengaluru, in run-up to freshly concluded state Brian Naranjo, to vacant the country. Both the assembly elections. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 64 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

ambassadors have provided 48 hours to make time, then the airlines will issue an option of the displacement. full reimbursement of ticket to the passenger. o The United States State Department refused o When delay is above 24 hrs from planned time Maduro’s accusations against the both of departure and results flight to fly on the next ambassadors. day, passenger will then be eligible for a free- Robinson expected the role of charge d’affaires of-charge hotel stay including transfers. in December 2017. o If the flight is positioned on the pitch for above Impact of Sanctions 60 minutes, then adequate and free-of-charge o The modern round of United States approvals hot snacks and drinks will be provided to the is probable to have a serious influence on passengers. Venezuela’s financial system. o If passenger are informed about the flight o The earlier approvals had been inadequate to cancellation less than 2 weeks before, the the assets connected to individual Maduro airline must issue an alternate flight permitting administration members. the passenger to depart within 2 hours of the o The new executive order will ban United States booked scheduled time or reimbursement the inhabitants from being involved in the sales of ticket, as acceptable to the passenger. Venezuela’s pending invoices linked to oil and o In case the passenger is not communicated other assets. about the flight cancellation up to 24 hours of o The Trump administration has also tried to the planned departure time, the airlines must influence China and Russia to halt releasing reimbursement the full value of the air ticket. new credit to Venezuela. o Cancellation of tickets Airline shall not impose o The two nations have issued billions of dollars any extra charge for correction in name of the in funding to Venezuela in recent years. person, if name correction is needed up to 3 No cancellation fee for flights characters only and the mistake in the name cancelled within 24 hours of spelling is pointed out by the passenger within booking by - Draft Passenger 24 hours of making a reservation. o Cancellation amount must be published on the Charter ticket itself in a lowest font size of 12 and not The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation alerted as a fine print. This data should also be issued the Draft Passenger Charter defining rights for as part of the reservation documentation. air passengers for public consultation, on May o Passengers can cancel or alter the ticket 22nd , 2018. without any extra charges within 24 hours of The Draft Passenger Charter issues the benefits booking the ticket. that the passengers will be eligible to enjoy the NITI Aayog, ABB India benefits, if the airline is found to be at fault. signedStatement of Intent on - The charter will make sure a hassle-free air travel experience. 23rd May 2018 Draft Passenger Charter NITI Aayog and ABB India inked a Statement o If the flight is projected to be delayed for over of Intent on May 23 rd , 2018 to backing the four hours from the planned time of Indian government realise its vision of ‘Make departure/revised departure time that is in India’ via advanced industrial technologies informed 24 hours prior to planned departure that integrate the latest progresses in robotics UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 65 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

and artificial intelligence. Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand from May 30th to The contract was inked by Adviser (Industry) June 12th , 2018. Anna Roy, NITI Aayog and MD, ABB India, This will be the 13 th edition of the military Sanjeev Sharma, in the presence of NITI exercise among India and Nepal. Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and ABB CEO More about SURYA KIRAN-XIII Dr.Ulrich Spiesshofer. o The joint military exercise will improve the Key Highlights level of defence collaboration which will o Mutually, NITI Aayog and ABB will work further fortify the bilateral relations among the with government ministries, looking forward two countries. response for areas critical to them and o The military exercise will consist of training on discourse solutions using industrial automation forest warfare, anti-terrorism fight as well as and digitalisation technologies. disaster management activities. o NITI Aayog will simplify the participation of o More than 300 soldiers from both Indian and representatives and government ministries in Nepal Army will be taking part in the exercise. workshops and training programmes held by o These soldiers will be sharing the experiences ABB India. expanded during the conduct of various o The training programmes are believed to counter insurgence and counter terrorism feature subject matter specialists and will goal operations in the past. to sensitise o Exercise SURYA KIRAN Exercise SURYA representatives and officials about relevant AI KIRAN is a six-monthly exercise which is held abilities and explore ways they can be utilised alternatively in Nepal and India. for revolutionising industrial productivity. o Notably, it is Exercise SURYA KIRAN with o The association will consist of a across sectoral Nepal which is the major in terms of troop consideration of digitalisation at ABB’s world- involvement, among all the military training class centres. exercises inaugurated by India with various o The 1st workshop under this teamwork would nations. be held for senior government administrators o The objective of this exercise is to in June, 2018 at ABB Ability Innovation comportment battalion level joint training with Centre, Bengaluru. stress on counter terrorism operations in hilly o The senior bureaucrats will be selected from terrain. central, state governments and autonomous o The joint military exercise will improve the bodies. level of defence assistance which will further o Given the significance of the food processing fortify the bilateral ties between the both sector, the workshop will aim on digital and countries. automation technologies in the segment. Pakistan hosted SCO Regional India-Nepal militaries to Anti-Terrorist Structure meeting conduct joint battalion level in - Islamabad exercise SURYA KIRAN-XIII Pakistan organised its 1st ever Shanghai from - 30th May 2018 onwards Cooperation Organisation-Regional Anti- Joint military exercise SURYA KIRAN-XIII Terrorist Structure will be held in between India and Nepal at legal specialists meeting in Islamabad. This UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 66 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

was the 1st-ever Shanghai Cooperation INSV Tarini team members in New Delhi on Organisation meeting being organised in May 24 th , 2018. The whole women team Pakistan since it became a everlasting member consisted of 6 members including of the organisation along with India in June Lt.Commander Vartika Joshi, Lt.Commander 2017. Pratibha Jamwal, Lt.Commander Swathi Key Points Patarpalli, Lt.Aishwarya Bodapatti, o The three days meeting witnessed the Lt.SH.Vijaya Devi and Lt.Payal Gupta. The participation of legal consultants from 8 Nari Shakti Puraskar was presented to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member beneficiaries by President Ram Nath Kovind states including China, Kazakhstan, on March 8th , 2018, on the International Kyrgyzstan, India, Russia, Women’s Day. However, the award could not Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan and be given to the INSV Tarini team, because they senates of the Shanghai Cooperation were sailing at that time. Organisation-Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure More about INSV Voyage executive board.  The 6-member crew headed by Lt.Commander o The main program of the meeting was to Vartika Joshi move around and handled the debate issues related to terrorist fears in the whole operation on their own. region and how to overawed them.  It is the first ever go-around the sphere by a o They debated terrorist threats being tackled by whole-women Indian team. region and ways and means to  The voyage lasted for 254 days, enhance regional collaboration in combat which consisted of 199 days at ocean, covering terrorism, drug trading and organised crime a total of 21600 nautical miles of distance. between Shanghai Cooperation Organisation  In total, the team made five port calls member states. consisting Fremantle in Australia, Lyttelton in SCO-Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure New Zealand, Port Stanley in Falkland Islands, o The RATS is a permanent organ of SCO. It Cape Town in South Africa and finally works to encourage collaboration of member Mauritius before coming back to home base to states against 3 evils of terrorism, separatism Goa. and extremism. It is HQ in Tashkent,  The ship faced rough seas, high storm Uzbekistan. situations and extremely cold temperatures, o The Head of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure making the voyage an extremely challenging. is designated to 3-year term. Each member  All the 6-members onboard had undergone state also guides permanent member to proper training for a period of 3 years prior to Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure. undertaking the massive operation.  The exercise was conducted under Captain INSV Tarini team conferred Dilip Donde, who was the 1st Indian to Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017 on - effectively carry out solo-go-around to the 24th May 2018 globe between 2009-2010. Prakash Javadekar launched The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi offered the Samagra Shiksha scheme for respected Nari Shakti Puraskar-2017 to the UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 67 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

school education on - 24th May  Manipur government has already assigned land 2018 for the planned university. The application to set up The Union Human Resource Development national sports university in Manipur was Minister Prakash Javadekar released Samagra primarily declared by PM Narendra Modi. Shiksha scheme for school education from pre-  Then it was sanctioned in 2014-15 budget with school to senior secondary levels, on May 24th Rupees 100 crores distribution. , 2018.  The planned university is anticipated to bridge Key Objective gap in sports environment of nation in different  The scheme will primarily aim on cultivating areas including sports science, quality of education, attractive the learning sports technology, intense performance outcomes and using technology to strengthen training. children and teachers. National Sports University Bill, 2017  The scheme will be aimed on digital education  The Bill set up National Sports University in and it will improve usage of digital technology Manipur. It is instructed to promote sports in education via smart classroom and digital education in boards. areas of sports sciences, sports technology and Significance sports coaching.  The scheme will deliver holistic education for  It will work as National Training Centre for holistic development. excellent sports disciplines.  It would assist advance the quality of education  It also authorizes the University to endowment by emphasising on teachers and technology. degrees, diplomas and certificates. It also  Yearly grant of Rupees 5000-20,000 will be permits Government to set up campuses and issued for solidification of libraries in the study centres in other parts of the nation. schools. India’s first National Sports Objectives of National Sports University  Research, progress and distribution of University in Manipur by - knowledge in physical education and sports Union Cabinet sciences. approves ordinance Firming up physical education and sports The Union Cabinet has sanctioned an training programmes. ordinance to form the nation’s 1st National  Producing knowledge abilities, skills and Sports University in in fitness at various levels. Imphal, Manipur. The regulation is on the lines  Training brilliant athletes to support them to of National Sports University Bill, 2017 which evolve into international level athletes. is pending Nepal becomes first country in in Parliament and was introduced in Lok Sabha south-east Asia to eliminate in August, 2017. Trachoma by - WHO Key Points WHO has authenticated Nepal for having  The specialised university will be the 1st of its eradicated trachoma, which is a transmittable kind in the nation and accept best international bacterial performs. infection of the eyes. It declares Nepal 1st UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 68 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

nation in World Health Organization’s South-  Aged people infected with this infection need East Asia Region to conquest trachoma, as its eyelid surgery for its cure. world’s foremost infectious cause of blindness. Cabinet approves USOF The eyes disease was 2nd foremost cause of scheme for Meghalaya under - unnecessary blindness in Nepal in 1980s. Its pervasiveness in Nepal has decreased by 40 CTDP percent after execution of sustained control Union Cabinet has sanctioned implementation activities consisting National Trachoma of Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan Programme which delivered incentives to Project for North Eastern Region in Meghalaya homegrown communities and districts to shape to advance mobile services. The project has and maintain latrines, measures that were vital facility of 2G as well as 4G mobile network to progress sanitation and diminish disease coverage in recognized non-coverage areas of carrying flies. Meghalaya and unified mobile World Health Organization Criteria utilised to network along National Highways in the state. evaluate nation’s claim for eradicated trachoma It will be sponsored by Universal Service as a Obligation Fund. public health problem-Less than 5 per cent of Cabinet also permitted enhanced cost of children aged 1–9 years have symptoms of Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan active trachoma. Project for North- Less than 0.2 percent of people for the age Eastern Region for Rupees 8,120.81 crores. It group of 15 years and older have trachomatous already has sanctioned Rupees 5,336.18 crores trichiasis. on Health system which can classify and September 2014 for the project. accomplish fresh cases of trachomatous Advantages trichiasis.  Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan focuses to firming up of telecom network that More about Trachoma will outcome in upsurge of mobile connectivity  It is an eye disease triggered by infection with bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Eye in Meghalaya. infection is chiefly common in young children.  It will deliver inexpensive and equitable access of communication and governance to  It results inflamed granulation on inner side of eye-lids. It blowouts through contact with individuals. infective eye/nose discharges. Eye/nasal  Connecting unreached individuals of discharge can be communicated directly Meghalaya via public mobile network will from person to person and arbitrated by flies authorize citizens with advantages of ICTs for which have been in contact with eyes/noses furthering socio-economic expansions. discharge of infected person.  It will also upsurge ground-breaking skill of un-exposed areas of the state via broadband  Trachoma communication is linked with poor sanitation and hygiene, which and internet admittance. upsurge accessibility of eye discharges and Universal Service Obligation Fund boost flies breeding. It can be cured with  Universal Service Obligation Fund was antibiotics in case of children. designed by Central Government to aid fund projects to enhance connectivity in rural areas. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 69 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 The money support for this trust comes via educational institutions and universities will be ‘Universal Access Levy,’ which is gathered talented to propose graduate, Post-Graduate from telecom operators as percentage of and Diploma courses online from the various licenses fees being compensated by forthcoming academic session. them. Key Information Who has been appointed o The Institutions can propose online courses in as Chairman of Press Council of those guidelines in which they are already presenting the similar programmes in India ? - Former SC judge CK regular/open and distance learnings. Prasad o The Institutions will be talented to propose Government has selected former Supreme online degrees in all areas, except that need Court Judge C.K.Prasad as Chairman of Press practical or laboratory classes consisting Council of India for second term. His Engineering, Medicine, Dental, Pharmacy, suggestion was sanctioned by 3-member Nursing, Architecture and Physiotherapy. committee led by Vice President o The tests would be conducted in proctored Venkaiah Naidu. He was previously selected to mode and in conformism with any standards position in November 2014 after Justice for such papers specified by the commission. Markanday Katju stepped down. o The online learning shall have least 4 Press Council of India quadrants, Video lectures, e-content, personal-  Press Council of India is a constitutional body assessment and a debate forum to clarify with mandate to work as watchdog to supervise queries. conduct of the print media. It originates its Congress-JD(S) coalition wins mandate from Press Council Act, 1978. floor test in Karnataka assembly  It involves Chairman, who has by convention, been a retired judge of Supreme Court and 28 on - 25th May 2018 other The Janata Dal-Secular- Congress alliance led members off whom twenty represent press, 5 by H.D.Kumaraswamy secured the floor test in are designated from both the Houses of the Karnataka assembly on May 25th , 2018, Parliament and 3 represent cultural, literary winding-up the ten days political drama. and legal areas. The motion communicating assurance in the  It is constitutional body working as watchdog Kumaraswamy government was accepted via a of press. It arbitrates complaints against and by voice vote. Overall, 117 MLAs voted in side of the press for violation of morals and for the alliance government. The Bhartiya Janta violation of the freedom of the press Party MLAs headed by former Chief Minister correspondingly. Yeddyurappa performed a walkout over the farm loan sacrifice concerns just before the trust vote.  Online degree, diploma courses from upcoming academic Key highlights o The elections for the position of Speaker led session approved by - UGC for the vote of confidence. Senior Congress The UGC sanctioned new guidelines for online leader Ramesh Kumar was selected courses by universities on May 24th , 2018. unanimously to the position by the The commission finalised that the higher UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 70 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

policymakers after Bhartiya Janta Party established with technical inputs from the contender Suresh Kumar removed his United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, in nomination. partnership o The victory for the position-poll coalition came with National Council for Educational 2 days following Kumaraswamy took oath in Research and Training and National Institute as the new CM of the state. of Education o Kumaraswamy had appealed the support of Planning and Administration. 117 representatives including single BSP and Key Points single independent member. o The application utilises Unified District o BJP with 104 members was 8 short of being Information System for Education, National the mega party in the House that has the asset Assessment survey and demographic of 222 associates. information. o With the final result out in the open, Bhartiya o It can be utilised as visual instrument by Janta Party would be the only opposition in the policy-formers, academic world, senior House and B.S.Yeddyurappa was nominated to government administrators, and scientists to be the leader of Opposition. address breaks and monitor programmes in Did you know? field of education. With the Karnataka Assembly polls ensuing in Shiksha Mela Education Open Day a hung judgement, the 2nd largest party, o United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund Congress and Janata Dal-Secular finalised to India in corporation with Ministry of Human come together to stake rights to form the Resource government in the state. Development organised Shiksha Mela With the power with the Governor Vajubhai Education Open Day to validate case stories Vala, BJP as single largest party in the state demonstrating was asked to set up the government and the complete and reasonable quality education party’s state leader B.S.Yeddyurappa took oath attained via convergent programming around as the CM of the state. 17 states. However, in the unexpected floor test well- Singchung Bugun Village ordered by the Supreme Court, the BJP was Community Reserve won - unsuccessful to collect the needed numbers and Yeddyurappa declared his letter of resignation India Biodiversity Award 2018 from the position just before the trust vote. Arunachal Pradesh-based Non-Government Data visualisation app on Organisation “Singchung Bugun Community Reserve” education scenario in India secured the India Biodiversity Award 2018 in launched by - UNICEF the “Conservation of wildlife species” class. It The United Nations Children’s Emergency was Fund- UNICEF released Data Visualisation bestowed for its hard work to conserve erratic Application to critically endangered bird Bugun Liocichla. deliver operator-friendly visual symbol of India Biodiversity Award complex analytics of education situation in The prize is combined initiative of Union India. It was Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 71 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

Change, National recommendations of Punchhi Commission on Biodiversity Authority and United Nations 25th May 2017 by under the supervision of Development programme. It recognises Home Minister Rajnath Singh. During the 13th involvement of a meeting of the Standing Committee of the ISC range of shareholders towards the protection of they have made this announcement. biodiversity. It is given in 4 categories More about 13th meeting of the Standing including Committee of the ISC Conservation of Threatened Species, o This meeting delibrated the VI and VII Sustainable utilisation of biological sources, volumes of the report containing total of 88 Successful replicas for access and advantage recommendations. sharing and Biodiversity Management o Recommmendations VI are related to Committees. environment, natural resources and infra Singchung Bugun Community Reserve structure. o Singchung Bugun Community Reserve is o Whereas for volume VII , these are related to seventeen sq km biodiversity hotspot in socio economic development, public policy Arunachal Pradesh. and governance. o It was introduced under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is homebased to censoriously Rustom-2 drone to be delivered endangered bird species Bugun Liocichla, to armed forces by 2020 by - which is not found anywhere else in world. DRDO o It is situated right next to Eaglesnest Wildlife sanctuary, which is also homeplace to the bird According to a contract Made in India Rustom- species. II Unmanned Aerial Vehicle by DRDO will be Bugun Liocichla. provided to armed forces by 2020. Presently, its basic system is being finalized and attempts o The bird was recognized as a new species in 2006 and is supposedly only new bird species are performing to enhance its flight altitude. Its to have been revealed in India since 1947. It engineering will be done by Hindustan has been named after Bugun tribe because of Aeronautics Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd. their protection efforts. More about Rustom-II  Rustom-II is part of Rustom line of Unmanned o International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified Liocichla as Critically Aerial Vehicles which are made in India, Endangered. outlined and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation that includes o There are only about 20-24 duos which live in the area. Rustom-I, Rustom-H and Rustom-C.  It is being established for utilisation of all 3 services of Indian Armed Forces, chiefly  Delibrations on Punchhi for intelligence, surveillance and Commission report completed reconnaissance actions. by - Inter State Council  It is a long-fortitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Standing Committee that has twenty hours estimated flight time. Inter State Council Standing Committee has Its medium-altitude prototype can fly at completed the delibration on all the 273 estimated 22,000 feet. It is drove by 2 three- UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 72 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

bladed NPO saturn engines in which each  Her literally work has secured various national engine produces more than 450 kilograms and international awards including Poland’s force energy. most significant ‘Nike Literary Award’ twice.  It stands 2.4 meters tall with wing area of 20.6 She also has co-written script for Polish crime metres and length of 9.5 metres. It can fly at film Spoor, which earned the Alfred Bauer about 280 kilometres per hour. Prize at the Berlin film festival in 2017.  Various critical systems and machineries of  It was also nominated as Poland’s entry for Rustom-II, including its airframe, flight best overseas language film at 2018 Oscars. control, landing gear and many more, have Man Booker International Prize been developed in India and some in  Man Booker International Prize is complement association with private constructors. to Man Booker Prize for English-language  Rustom-II can transport variety of cargos like novels offered by the Man Group. Long Range Electro Optic, Medium Range  It is free to books in any language that have Electro Optic,Synthetic Aperture Radar, been interpreted into English. It has monetary Electronic Intelligence- ELINT and Situational award of £50,000 which is divided evenly Awareness Payloads that assist in between writer and interpreter. accomplishment of missions during the night  The authors are finalised by judges from a also. wide range of guidelines and all with passion Man Booker International Prize for excellence fiction. 2018 won by - Olga Tokarczuk Sushant Singh Rajput signed Polish author Olga Tokarczuk bestowed Man Sol to promote Booker International Prize 2018. It makes her Women Entrepreneurship 1st writer Platform with - NITI Aayog from Poland to secure this prestigious English- NITI Aayog has inked Statement of Intent with language literary Prize. She earned prize with renowned actor and entrepreneur Sushant English Singh Rajput translation of her novel “Flights”. It was 1st to cooperate and support its flagship Women printed in Polish language in 2007 and was Entrepreneurship Platform initiative. In his translated into new role, actor transformed into entrepreneur English in 2017 by Jennifer Croft. will backing NITI’s initiative for women More about Olga Tokarczuk entrepreneurs, enabling  Olga Tokarczuk is one of most commercial ecosystem for women of the unsympathetically acclaimed and successful nation. He will also encourage Bharat Interface Polish writers of her for Money generation. digital payments application for cashless  She is mainly noted for hallmark legendary economy by give the idea in various video, tone of her writing. She is proficient as print and social psychologist at University of Warsaw. media operations of NITI Aayog. He will also  She has printed variety of poems, novels and support NITI Aayog in encouraging Women other books with shorter prose works. Her 1st Transforming novel was ‘The Journey Of The People Of The India Awards 2018 with theme ‘Women and Book’ which was published in 1993. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 73 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

Entrepreneurship’.  The summit associates 2 conferences Women Entrepreneurship Platform ‘WindEnergy Hamburg’ and ‘WindEurope’. NITI Aayog had released Women  WindEurope, in corporation with WindEnergy Entrepreneurship Platform in March 2018 on Hamburg, will accommodate the Global Wind the eve of the International Women’s Day. Summit 2018 in the Hamburg Messe. Key Objectives  More than 1400 exhibitors will come together  Create environment for females in India to for WindEnergy Hamburg, with an objective to escalate their commercial aspirations, increase network, do trade and expands visibility prior innovative activities and chalk-out to a truly global listeners. supportable, long lasting strategies for their  More than 50 meeting sessions by 250 trades. specialists of WindEurope will witness the  Power vibrant commercial ecosystem over vanguard of every aspect of the wind industry enabling network of industry associations, in 2018. corporations,  The event will observer involvement from mentors and peer-to-peer link. more than 100 nations including India, China,  Women Entrepreneurship Platform benefits USA, Spain and Denmark. aspiring women businesspersons in 3 different  The conferences will debate on the ways to ways which is demonstrated as its 3 pillars. progress new markets, make competitive They are-“Ichha Shakti” is for motivating produce in auctions and use wind power for all ambitious entrepreneurs to initiate their energy apps. business. India’s participation in the summit  “Gyaan Shakti” is for providing information A variety of Indian firms would be taking part and environment support to women in the global event. India is 4th major nation in businesspersons to terms of wind energy installation with a assist them foster business. volume around 33 GW after China, USA and  “Karma Shakti” is for providing practical Germany. Indian government has formed an assistance to businesspersons in initiating and aim of achieving 60 GW by 2022. scaling up US delegation is in North Korea businesses. to arrange Singapore Summit by Germany to host first edition of - Donald Trump Global Wind Summit by -  United States President Donald Trump September 25th 2018 broadcasted that a United States entrustment is The 1st edition of the Global Wind Summit in North Korea to make arrangements for the will be accommodated by Germany from Singapore Summit, on May 27 th , 2018, which September 25th -28th , 2018 at Hamburg. a clear-cut signal of the summit among Donald Highlights of the first Global Wind Summit Trump and North Korea front-runner Kim Jong  The Global Wind Summit 2018 will be the Un is back on pathway. mega meeting point for trade, networking and The delegation consists of United States data for the whole of the wind industry Ambassador to the Philippines, Sung Kim; the including onshore and offshore. Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, Randall G. Schriver; UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 74 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

and Director for Korea on the White  As a worldwide partner with North Atlantic House's National Security Council, Allison Treaty Organization, Colombia will not Hooker. essentially have to participate in active military On the other side, Kim Jong Un met Choe Son activities of North Atlantic Treaty Hui, a knowledgeable North Korean Organization but will be completely accredited ambassador who experte in the nation's ties to 29 countries’ military association. with Washington, in concern to the  It will collaborate on worldwide security areas preparations of the summit. including cyber and nautical security, terrorism The meeting is planned to be accommodated and organized crime. on June 12th , 2018, will spot the 1st face-to-  Other worldwide associates of North face meeting between a sitting United States Atlantic Treaty Organization are Afghanistan, President and a North Korean leader. Australia, Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Revival of Singapore Summit New Zealand and Pakistan.  The statement comes afterward Donald Trump North Atlantic Treaty Organization specified on May 25 th , 2018 that he leftovers  North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a open to accommodate the Singapore Summit diplomatic military association among 29 with Kim Jong Un. North American and European nations  The communication between the US and North grounded on the North Atlantic Treaty that was Korea regarding restoring the June 12 summit, inked on 4th April 1949. regenerated afterward Donald Trump suddenly  It is HQ in Brussels, Belgium, while HQs of its negated the summit succeeding the harsh Allied Command Operations is in Belgium. statements from North Korea in which they Did you know? warned not to be present at the summit. North Atlantic Treaty Organization association Singapore Summit earlier cancelled by had touched partnership contract with Donald Trump Colombia back in May 2017, following the United States President Donald Trump negated Latin American inked peace contract with the historic Singapore Summit with North communist Revolutionary Armed Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on May 24 th , Forces of Colombia, finishing the long civil 2018, condemning North Korea of battle in Latin America. The peace contract ‘tremendous anger and open hostility’. had earned NATO as global partner is Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos 2016 joined by - Colombia Nobel Peace Prize.

Colombia has officially linked NATO- North Atlantic Treaty Organization as global partner. Agreement signed between It makes it BCCI and UN Environment to 1st Latin American to join North Atlantic promote - Green Cricket Treaty Organization. The declaration came in India later Organization The BCCI has inked Letter of Intent with for Economic Cooperation and Development United Nations Environment to promote green’ sanctioned Colombia as a fresh member. cricket in India. The corporation goals to Key Points spread greater awareness about crucial UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 75 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

environmental challenges that India is facing extreme and limelight alternate and additional weather alerts to individuals. The warnings sustainable solutions. will be about looming extreme weather Key Points conditions including  Through this Letter of Intent, Board of Control rainstorms and heatwave. for Cricket in India will encourage to decrease Key Points its environmental influence by greening its  Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited and Indian operations and appealing cricketers and Meteorological Department will broadcast area followers in green initiatives. specified  Partnering with United Nations Environment warnings to subscribers if they happen to be at will benefit to make cricket green and sensitise place likely in extreme weather conditions. audiences towards diminishing waste  The workout is being carried out in an production during matches. investigational stage, and if effective, Ministry  It will also aim on pushing out single-utilised of Earth Sciences devices to rope in other plastic around stadiums in the nation. weather interventions also. Green Cricket Initiatives Did you know?  Movies with messages from skippers of The initiative comes after Indian numerous franchises will be telecasted in Meteorological Department came under stadiums lime-lighting threats of plastic disapproval from several pollution during the game of IPL. quarters, for not broadcasting specific  At the 4 matches played at Holkar Stadium in warnings. Government weather forecasting MP, a Green Protocol grounded on idea of 3 companies have Rupees to decrease, reuse and reprocess was limitations in broadcasting information, applied. especially for thunderstorms where issues  M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru, disclose very quickly. Since these weather Karnataka substituted plastic cups and bottles forecasting companies cannot reach every with environment-welcoming replacements for person, there must a midway agency that could more than 32,000 followers. pass on the forecast to individuals. Prime UN Environment Minister’s Office had recently asked United Nations Environment is foremost Indian Meteorological Department to broadcast worldwide environmental authority that forms weather advisories to people. worldwide India launched its second IT environmental agenda, assists as commanding corridor in China on - May 27th advocate for worldwide environment. It was recognized in June 1972. It is HQ in Nairobi, 2018 Kenya. India releases its 2nd IT corridor in China to IMD to team up with BSNL for advantage from the nation’s growing software market, on May 27th , 2018. The Digital sending - Extreme weather Collaborative Opportunities Plaza platform, IT warnings corridor, was recognized in China’s Guiyang The India Meteorological Department has tied- city by the NASSCOM. up with state-operated BSNL to transmit Key Highlights UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 76 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 During the launch of the corridor, MoUs worth permitting the government to bring in the new about 6 million US Dollars were inked among legislation by the end of the year. Indian service providers and Chinese clienteles The poll follows a sensitive movement. More by China's Guiyang Municipal government and than 3.2 million people recorded to vote in the the National Association of Software and referendum. Services Companies. In favour of the vote  The pilot projects released on the SIDCOP  The Chairwoman of the Termination for platform would be performed during 2019. Medical Reasons, Siobhan Donohue explained  National Association of Software and Services the result as “hugely significant" Companies had recognized its 1st SIDCOP  Donohue was one who had to travel to platform in the Chinese port city of Dalian in neighbouring Britain to undergo an abortion, December 2017. when her baby TJ was detected with a foetal  While the focus of Dalian corridor was on anomaly. Internet of Things, the Guiyang corridor will Against the vote aim on Big Information.  Orla Halpenny, a doctor and representative for  The release ceremony witnessed the the anti-abortion group ‘Doctors for Life’, participation of above 350 delegates from labelled the result as disappointing Halpenny is Indian and Chinese firms. now worried that doctors will not have the Did you know? right to reject to refer patients for termination India's top IT companies have a large presence services. in China, which is supposed to deliver a EU's new data protection rules doorway for the Indian IT-small and medium- came into effect on- 25th May sized initiatives. India has been asking China to deliver market access to Indian IT and 2018 pharmaceutical companies for several years to The European Union’s General Data Protection decrease the bilateral business deficit. The 2 Regulation was brought into complete effect corridors started in partnership with China's on May 25th , 2018. provincial governments are believed to deliver The new data privacy rules elucidate personal the ample required mega opening for Indian IT rights to the personal data collected by firms companies. worldwide for focused advertising and other Ireland ends abortion ban as determinations. Key Highlights quiet revolution transforms  The General Data Protection Regulation forms country on - 26th May 2018 fresh rules for how firms manage and share Ireland voted to finish the abortion ban, an personal information. initiative greeted as the culmination of “a quiet  Though the rules apply only to the inhabitants revolution” in one of the Europe’s most of the EU, the worldwide nature of the internet socially traditional nations, on May 26 th , means that approximately every online service 2018. A quiet revolution has been happening will be affected. in Ireland over the past couple of  While the guideline mainly builds on the decades. Voters selected to liberalise the much guidelines formed by earlier European Union preventive abortion laws by 2-to-1, thus, privacy measures, it enlarges on those UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 77 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

measures in 2 crucial ways: Yellow, Yangtze and Western Liao rivers. 1.The General Data Protection Regulation Other parts of China established equally forms a higher bar for gaining personal advanced cultures around 5300 years ago. information on the internet, higher than ever  Some 3800 years ago, a much mature seen earlier. civilisation appeared in the central plains of the 2.So, any time a firm will need to gather nation and started to culturally inspiring the personal information of any European Union surrounding regions. inhabitant, it will need explicit and informed 15 years of Study permission from the concerned individual. The  The studies are the outcome of a programme rule explicitly extends to firms based that was released by the Chinese Ministry of outside the EU. Science and Technology in 2001 and finished A. The companies will have to simplify how in 2016. long they hold information.  The investigation was directed by specialists B. The rules will also pressurise firms that from the Institute of Archaeology of the suffer information breaks to disclose them Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and within 72 hours. Peking University with foremost  The fresh rules will apply to all users in the archaeologists. European Union, regardless of where the  China is measured to be the oldest in the world companies collecting, analysing and using their courting back from ancient times to modern data are located. times. Till date, it had been broadly expected  Hence the rules will affect social networking that the Chinese civilisation had above 5000 giants such as Facebook and Google, as they years of history. have millions of users in Europe.  Further, the companies based in the EU will Gaj Yatra launched in Garo have to offer the privacy protection rules to all Hills of Meghalaya by - their users, not just EU residents. Ministry of Environment, China officially sets civilisation Forest and Climate Change age at 5800 years on - 28th May Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate 2018 Change rolled out ‘Gaj Yatra’, to safeguard The Chinese researchers declared on May 28th elephants from Tura in Garo Hills of , 2018 that the Chinese civilization was Meghalaya. It was planned by the Wildlife originated 5800 years ago and was matured Trust of India in partnership with the State 3800 years ago. The declaration was made at a Forest Department. State Council press meeting by the Deputy In this campaign, an elephant mascot will be Director of State Administration for Cultural taken around regions frequented by jumbo Heritage, Guan Qiang. The conclusions were masses for creating awareness among the completed after fifteen years of state people. It was released to recognized good sign subsidized work. of villagers from Garo Hills who had form Key Findings aside part of their community possessed land to  Guan Qiang elucidated that the 1st signals of form village standby forests for civilisation developed in areas around the UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 78 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

human-elephant agreement. utilising ultra-thin sheets to force More about Gaj Yatra ferromagnetic phase.  Gaj Yatra is 18 months long national campaign  It took them about 2 years to discover correct focused to safeguard elephants which is India’s way to cultivate this material and authenticate national heritage animal in twelve elephant it. The finding will assist to advance sensors, range states. devices in computer memory and logic  It was released in August 2017 by industry utilising magnetic things. Environment and Forest Minister Harsh  From an application point of view, Ruthenium Vardhan on the eve of World Elephant Day is resistant to oxidation and additionally has 2017 celebrated on August 12th . high thermal stability, which is a vigorous  The campaign is being directed by Wildlife necessity for scaling magnetic memories. Trust of India. It goals to involve individuals More about Ruthenium from all spheres of life in preservation of  Ruthenium is chemical element with atomic elephants. number 44. It is infrequent transition metal  In this campaign, Wildlife Trust of India is have its place to platinum group of periodic safeguarding 101 elephant corridors around in table. twelve elephant range states via its Right to  Ruthenium is inert to most other chemicals. It Passage project, in corporation with Union was discovered in 1844 by Russian originated government’s Project Elephant, state forest scientist Karl Ernst. Ruthenium is typically subdivisions and different Non- found as negligible component of platinum Governmental Organisations. ores. It is utilised in wear-unaffected electrical  The objective of this project is to assimilate contacts and thick film resistors. people affected by man-elephant fight in  It is also used in platinum alloys and as a corridor areas while making sure never-ending chemistry catalyst. movement of elephants among significant Who has been appointed habitats. President of National Consumer Fourth element Disputes Redressal Commission showing magnetism at room ? - R K Agrawal temperature discovered, is - The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet Ruthenium (Ru) has sanctioned former Supreme Court Judge Researchers from University of Minnesota Justice have found that chemical element Ruthenium R.K.Agrawal as President of National is 4th element Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. He having unique ferromagnetic properties at will succeed Justice D.K.Jain, who finished his room temperature. Till date, only 3 periodic term. Justice Agrawal was judge of Supreme table elements Court from February 2014 to May 2018 and Iron, Cobalt, and Nickel have exhibited had assisted on bench of the Supreme court for ferromagnetic properties at room temperature. 4 years. Key Points National Consumer Disputes Redressal  Scientists displayed that Ruthenium can be 4th Commission single element ferromagnetic material by UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 79 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 National Consumer Disputes Redressal  She will be in-charge of government and Commission is commission formed under bank account department, which progressions Consumer Protection Act of 1986. government transactions and income  It addresses complaints of aggrieved consumer collections. for goods and services having value more  She will also supervise Reserve Bank of than Rupees one crore. India’s investments in India and overseas.  It was recognized in 1988 and is HQ in New  She will also be in-charge of dividend Reserve Delhi. The commission is led by retired judge Bank of India pays to government, which is of Apex Court of India. vital in final budgetary calculations. More about Statutory Provisions  Under Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934,  Section 21 of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 Reserve Bank of India is needed to pay suggests that National Consumer Disputes government its excess after assembling Redressal provisions for bad and doubtful arrears, Commission shall have authority to handle devaluation in assets and involvement to staff complaint valued above Rupees one crore and and retirement fund among others. also have International Day of UN appellate and revisional authority from orders Peacekeepers 2018 observed of state commissions. globally on - 29th May 2018  Section 23 of Act delivers that any person distressed by order of National Consumer The International Day of United Nations Disputes Redressal Commission, may put Peacekeepers was celebrated worldwide on application against such order to Supreme May 29 th , 2018 with an objective to honour Court within time period of thirty days. above 3700 peacekeepers who have lost their Sudha Balakrishnan as its first lives while serving the UN since 1948, as well as 129 who passed away in 2017. Chief Financial Officer Celebrations of the Day appointed by - RBI  On the eve of the International Day of United RBI has chosen Sudha Balakrishnan as the 1st Nations Peacekeepers, the United Nations Chief Financial Officer. She will be the twelfth Secretary-General supervises over a wreath- executive laying ceremony at the United Nations HQ in director of the Reserve Bank of India and will New York to bestow all peacekeepers who lost have term period of 3 years. their lives while serving under the United Sudha Balakrishnan is CA by profession. Nations flagship. Previously, she was executive VP of National  In addition, the Dag Hammarskjold Medal is Securities presented retrospectively to the peacekeepers Depository Limited, India’s 1st and largest who have collapsed while working in the cause depository. of peace during the preceding year. Key Points More about UN Peacekeepers Day  The new Chief Financial Officer will be in-  The International Day of UN Peacekeepers charge of Reserve Bank of India’s balance- was announced by the UN General Assembly sheet to make sure accounting policies and through Resolution 57/129 on December 11 th processes comply with guidelines. , 2002. The day was 1st observed in 2003. UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 80 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 The UN finalised to announce the day after months period getting a formal request of the Ukrainian ahead of general elections to be organised in Peacekeepers Association and the Ukraine July 2018. The work profile of caretaker PM is Government. to maintain  The day, May 29 th , marks the anniversary of nation running among termination of the creation of the UN Truce Supervision parliament and fresh government being under Organization in 1948 to watch the ceasefire oath. The current after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and it was the ruling government will finish tenure in May 1st ever United Nations peacekeeping mission. 2018 and caretaker government will continue Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali ties up in office until with BSNL with - Swadeshi new government is formed via elections. The provisional caretaker administration usually Samriddhi SIM cards does not form Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali has tied-up with state any chief decisions until new government is possessed BSNL, to release Swadeshi designated, though it may act to shore up Samriddhi SIM economy in case of deteriorating macro- cards. With this, India’s furthermost trusted economic outlook. FMCG brand has arrived in to telecom sector More about Nasirul Mulk after getting  Nasirul Mulk took birth on August 17 th , 1950 popularity in the consumer goods market. in Mingora, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area. Key Realities  He had served as lawyer and judge for  Swadeshi Samriddhi SIM cards can be numerous years before becoming 22nd-Chief recharged for Rupees 144, for which Justice of Pakistan from July 2014-August subscribers will get unlimited calls across 2015. nation, 2GB internet data and 100 SMS free.  Previously, he worked as acting Chief Election  Primarily, only Patanjali staffs and office Commissioner of Pakistan from bearers will receive the advantages of SIM November 2013-July 2014. card. After wide-ranging rollout of SIM cards, WHO adopts Resolution on clienteles will receive a 10 percent discount on Patanjali goods. Digital Health initiated by  The SIM card also covers medical insurance India: - JP Nadda and life insurance benefits. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister  The medical insurance benefit is for Rupees J.P.Nadda broadcasted on May 29 th , 2018, 2.5 lakhs, while life insurance advantages that the WHO has accepted the resolution on for Rupees five lakh. Digital Health, brought out by India, during the  These benefits can only be availed in case of 71st World Health Assembly. road accidents only. The 71st World Health Assembly was Ex-Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk organised in Geneva and was witnessed by named as - caretaker PM of representatives from all World Health Organisation member states. Pakistan Resolution on Digital Health Pakistan’s former Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk was termed as nation’s caretaker PM for 2 UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 81 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

 The resolution recognises that Digital health including the nation’s High Commissioner to technology has enormous potential for Bangladesh. supportive Universal Health Coverage and  He also worked as the Joint Secretary in the enlightening accessibility, quality and PM’s Office between 2007-2012. Earlier to his affordability of health services. appointment as Deputy National Security  The resolution impulses Member States to Advisor, he was working as prioritise the progress and better utilisation of India’s Ambassador to Russia from November digital technologies in health as a means of 2015. advancing the Sustainable Development Aims.  His wife Preeti Saran is Secretary (East) in  It is the 1st step towards mainstreaming digital Ministry of External Affairs. technologies in health including deep machine Who is National Security Advisor? learning, artificial intelligence, internet of  The National Security Advisor is the chief things and genomics. executive of National Security Council and  It overlays the way for the World Health main advisor to PM on national and worldwide Organisation to create a global strategy on security and oversees strategic matters. digital health and involve member states to  It is National Security Advisor to whom maximise their health systems in intelligence agencies including RAW and synchronisation with the global digital health Intelligence Bureau report, rather than straight programme. to PM.  It also requests Member States to categorize  Due to such bestowed powers, National priority areas in which they would be profited Security Advisor is prominent and influential from World Health Organisation help office in the including implementation, assessment and administration. National Security Advisor is scaling up of digital health services and apps, aided by a Deputy National Security Advisor. data security, ethical and permissible concerns. The position was formed in November 1998 by Who has been appointed as Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government. Deputy National Security  Brajesh Mishra was the 1st to be nominated National Security Advisor of India. Since then, Advisor ? - Senior diplomat all National Security Advisors selected belong Pankaj Saran to IFS except M.K.Narayanan and obligatory, The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet Ajit Doval, who belong to IPS. has designated Senior Diplomat Pankaj Saran PRAAPTI App and Web portal as Deputy National Security Advisor. He will launched to bring transparency have tenancy of 2 years, on deputation. In his fresh role, he will support National Security in electricity payments to Advisor Ajit Doval along with Rajinder Generators by - The Union Khanna who was selected as Deputy Ministry of Power National Security Advisor in January 2018 The Union Ministry of Power has released web More about Pankaj Saran portal-www.praapti.in and application known  He is IFS officer of 1982 batch. He had as Payment Ratification And Analysis in detained various posts in India and overseas Power procurement for bringing Transparency in Invoicing of generators-PRAAPTI. The web UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 82 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS portal and app focus to convey transparency in  The blockchain technology-based standards to power acquisition transactions between check threat of Unsolicited Commercial Generators and Discoms. Communication will record all message Key Features between users and entities, seizing customer The PRAAPTI application and web Portal will consent for data and authorised telemarketing catch invoicing and payment information for agencies. different long-term Power Purchasing  It will make sure 2 things, i.e. non- repudiate Agreements from power generation and privacy. organisations. This will assist shareholders in  It will be protecting personal data of the receiving month-wise and legacy information customers for better eye on UCC. Only those on outstanding amounts of Discoms against permitted to use details will be able to permit power purchase. user details and only when they required to The PRAAPTI application will also permit provide the service. subscribers to get the details of payments and  The draft proposes to check misappropriation time of of frequent Unsolicited Commercial payments accomplished by Discoms to power Communication being done even to those users generators. It will also facilitate clients to who have given permission. estimate  The user will be now able to cancel permission financial performance of their Discoms in given to entities via Telecom Regulatory terms of payments paid to generators. Authority of India app and other process that The PRAAPTI web portal will also assist will be delivered under guideline. DISCOMs and GENCOs to settle their Advantages outstanding dues. It will  Using blockchain technology, all data can be help relative calculation of different State recorded and more choices can be provided to DISCOMs on comfort of completing payments clienteles regarding commercial to different communications. generators and will also assist doing businesses  The tele-callers will not have permission to in power Sector clearer. database of telecom subscribers and they can Use of blockchain technology to only reach out to those, who have selected to curb spam calls, texts proposed accept communication.  Moreover, any spam who practices normal ten by - TRAI digits number to communicate with people, can The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in be traced instantly after few people report to its draft Telecom Commercial Communication Telecom Regulatory Authority of India as Customer information can be coordinated. Preference Regulation, 2018 has projected World No Tobacco Day usage of blockchain technology to check threat of Unsolicited Commercial Communication, observed globally on - 31st May spam calls and messages. This will be for 1st 2018 time, that any nation will arrange blockchain World No Tobacco Day is celebrated technology to cross-check unwanted calls. worldwide on May 31st , 2018. WHO along Key Points with its associates mark the day each year by UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 83 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

lime-lighting the health and other dangers Newcastle University, United related with tobacco usage and encouraging for Kingdom effective policies to diminish tobacco Researchers from Newcastle University, consumption. United Kingdom have produced world’s 1st Key Highlights 3D printed human corneas that could solve  The World No Tobacco Day 2018 accords with problem of scarcity of available eye donors and a variety of global initiatives and options that benefit millions of blind people gain sight are focused at addressing the tobacco epidemic again. and its ill-effects of public health, particularly Cornea is the outermost layer of the human in causing the cancer, death and suffering of eye. Its important function is to focus millions of people worldwide. visualization. It also blockades eyes against  The actions include the World Health harmful dirt particles and bacteria. Any Organisation supported Global Hearts and damage to cornea from injury and infection can RESOLVE initiatives, which goals to reduce falsify vision and even results to blindness. cardiovascular disease and improve care and Key Points the 3rd UNs General Assembly High-  The 3D printed human corneas were created level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of using bio-ink solution comprising of healthy NCDs, being organised in 2018. corneal stem diversified together with alginate  Tobacco utilisation is an imperative risk factor and collagen. for the growth of cardiovascular disease, stroke  The amalgamation of alginate gel derivative and peripheral vascular disease. from seaweeds and collagen supports to keep  Presently, cardiovascular diseases are known corneal stem cells alive and creates material of to kill more people around the world than any essential dimensions which is rigid enough to other cause and tobacco usage and exposure to embrace its shape and soft enough to be passive smoking causes around 17 percent of enfolded out nozzle of 3D printer. all heart disease deaths. Andhra Pradesh gets separate  Tobacco habit is the 2nd leading cause of cardiovascular diseases, after high BP. state symbols post split declared  Universally, tobacco consumption results into on - May 30th , 2018 the lives of above seven million people every Andhra Pradesh has informed its distinct state year, of which approximately 900 000 are non- symbols after separation and formation of smokers dying from exposure to passive Telangana smoke. in 2014. The declaration of the fresh symbols  Moreover, close to 80% of from one billion was done by the state department of smokers across the world live in less or environment, forest, middle-income nations, where the burden of science and technology on May 30 th , 2018. tobacco-related diseases and death is on higher The initiative comes 4 years after unified side. Andhra Pradesh Scientists create world’s first was divided into 2 states- Andhra Pradesh and 3D-printed human corneas in - Telangana in June, 2014. Elucidation the reasons for proclaiming the new symbols, the department informed that UNITED ACADEMY www.unitedacademy.in Page No : 84 we change your life 2018 CURRENT AFFAIRS MAY IN DETAILS

thegovernment of Andhra Pradesh felt that it is Satyarthi acknowledged that he would donate essential to have a distinct set of symbols for the award money to Surakshit Bachpan Fund the state for the prosperity of children. While, of Andhra Pradesh after divergence of the joint A.S.Kiran Kumar publicised to dedicate the state. award money to further R&D work in space Significance science and technology. The most distinguished change was in the Santokbaa Humanitarian Award symbol of the state bird. However, the state  The Santokbaa Humanitarian Award was bird of unbroken Andhra Pradesh was Indian introduced by Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Roller or Palapitta, the separated Andhra Foundation Pradesh changed it to Rama Chiluka. Palapitta and headed by diamond baron Govind is now the state bird of Telangana, Odisha and Dholakia. Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh has reserved  The award consists of a trophy and award undivided Andhra Pradesh’s symbol of state money of Rupees one crore. animal as blackbuck in the form of its state  Shree Ramkrishna Knowledge Foundation animal. Telangana had dropped it to adopt deliberates the prize every year for spotted deer as their state animal. humanitarian The state tree Neem of combined Andhra assistances by entities whose life and work are Pradesh was also reserved by separated Andhra categorized by their selfless and inspiring Pradesh, service. while Telangana accepted Jammi Chettu, due  The award was 1st given in 2007 and since to its cultural significance in the region. then, the award has grateful various renowned Another distinguished change was in the state personalities including Ratan Tata, His flower, as though unbroken Andhra Pradesh Holiness the Dalai Lama, Bhikhu Parekh, had Dr.Verghese Kurien, Gandhian Narayan Desai water Lilly as the state flower, both divided and Sam Pitroda. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana dropped it. Kailash Satyarthi, AS Kiran Kumar conferred with Santokbaa Humanitarian Award on - 30th May 2018 President Ram Nath Kovind offered the 'Santokbaa Humanitarian Award' to Child rights activist and Noble Laureate Kailash Satyarthi and to space scientist A.S.Kiran Kumar, former Chairman of ISRO, on May 30th , 2018. The award was given during President’s visit to Surat, Gujarat in the presence of the Gujarat Governor O.P.Kohli and CM Vijay Rupani. After getting the award, Kailash